HEROES from around the Cotswolds were honoured at Cotswold District Council’s first ever Cotswold Champions Community Awards ceremony last Friday.

The ceremony and celebration dinner took place at the Royal Agricultural University on Friday 9 November, a date chosen to coincide with the ‘We remember 1918’ weekend to commemorate and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the end of WW1.

CDC Chairman Cllr Julian Beale had asked people to nominate residents and teams in the District to be chosen as Cotswold Champions, and applications from all parts of the District were received across seven categories.

Short-listed candidates were invited to the awards ceremony with the winners each receiving a prize of £1,000 from award sponsors.

Winners included Chelsey Dyson, who picked up the Young Volunteer of the Year Award for her comprehensive fundraising work for dementia and cancer charities.

The Community Team Award, for people from a sports club, activity group, or health group which helps others was awarded to BEAM Gymnastics in Cirencester, which was set up to fill a void in the lack of local sports clubs for children with additional emotional, physical, behavioural and sensory challenges in the local area.

Commenting on the inaugural awards Cllr Beale said:“Congratulations to the winners and runners up in each category and many thanks to everyone who took part in the competition.

"I would like to thank also the sponsors for their generosity and overall support, the Gloucestershire Rural Community Council for judging, and Council offices for creating a successful event. The number and quality of nominees proves that the Cotswolds breeds champions.

Professor Joanna Price, Vice-Chancellor of the Royal Agricultural University added: “It was an honour for the RAU to host these inspirational awards, celebrating Cotswolds residents who discreetly invest their time and energy in the community.

“We are very proud to have sponsored the Young Volunteer award which epitomises our belief that young people who give back to society and who put others before themselves are best equipped to become future leaders and good citizens.”

The full list of winners and sponsors were:

Young Volunteer of the Year Award – a young person (18 or under) who gives up time to help others (sponsored by Royal Agricultural University): Chelsey Dyson

Carer of the Year Award – a person who cares for a relative, friend or neighbour (sponsored by Badham Pharmacy): Bridget Salvage

Community Team Award – people from a sports club, activity group, health group etc. who give time to assist others (sponsored by St James’s Place Wealth Management) BEAM Gymnastics

Village Hero Award – a person who goes above and beyond for their village (sponsored by Air Salvage International): Elaine Drayton

Charity Event Award – a team that organises events to raise funds for charities (sponsored by Aura Care Living): Relay for Life

Town Champion Award – a person who makes an impact in their neighbourhood (sponsored by Tayler & Fletcher): Jennie Rainsford

Unsung Hero Award – a person who quietly makes a difference to other people’s lives (sponsored by Ian Carling, Founder of The Barn Theatre): Kate Lee