WITH time running out to nominate community heroes for our Pride of the Cotswolds awards, reporter Huw Mabe, who has been interviewing the people put forward for the prizes, explains why it’s so important to celebrate their dedication.

It has been great to read your Pride of the Cotswolds nominations that have been flooding in over the last couple of months.

I have had the pleasure of interviewing several nominees, all of whom have left a positive impression on the people around them.

Whether that be volunteer first responder Phil Miles helping to save lives, or Stroud District Action on Plastic helping to save the planet.

More of these interviews will follow in the coming weeks, but we are keen that everyone has a chance to nominate their community hero.

For those people who give up their spare time to help their community and its residents, it’s so important to recognise all they do – to spur them on to keep going, and inspire others to follow their example.

With that in mind, the deadline for nominations for Pride of the Cotswolds is Friday, July 26, so please do put someone forward for an award if you believe they are deserving.

A panel of judges will then pick the finalists and winners from all the entries.

All finalists will be invited to a glitzy awards ceremony at Forest Green Rovers FC’s New Lawn stadium in September.

Nominations are open through the Pride of the Cotswolds section of our website.

There are 11 categories covering everything from sporting achievement to good neighbours and the spirit of youth.

This year there are also two new awards: the Cotswold 999 Hero of the Year and Healthcare Hero of the Year will showcase people whose potentially lifesaving actions are helping make the Cotswolds a better place.