Covid-19 community champions urged to enter national awards
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
People and businesses in rural Scotland who have gone the extra mile to help their community during lockdown or those who have changed their business to deliver a local service are being urged to enter the 2020 Helping it Happen Awards.
Organised by Scottish Land And Estates the annual Helping it Happen Awards, which are free to enter, showcase the work done in 2019/20 by businesses, farms and estates to help rural Scotland thrive.
Chief executive of Scottish Land And Estates Sarah-Jane Laing said: “With everything that has happened over the past few months, we think it is important to shout about and celebrate the fantastic work going on in rural Scotland.
"We have heard of so many wonderful examples of people working together during the Covid-19 pandemic, so we are especially encouraging entries to our new ‘Community Champion of the Year’ category.
“If you have helped your local community during the pandemic, diversified your business in a quirky way, are doing fantastic innovative work on your farm, or perhaps you have been doing some really important work in conservation, the environment or educating kids about rural Scotland, you should enter our free national Helping it Happen Awards - or nominate someone else!
"A family member, employee, colleague or neighbour could all be worthy of an accolade!”
The Helping it Happen Awards are sponsored by GLM and to ensure people the length and breadth of Scotland are recognised for going above and beyond during lockdown, there will be a Community Champion Of The Year award across the five Scottish regions: North East, Highland, Central Scotland, South West and South East.
Since their inaugural year in 2017, the annual awards have firmly established the vital contribution that many businesses and groups make to the environment, employment, food, drink and tourism and education in our countryside.
The awards categories for 2020 are:
- Conservation Award.
- Enhancing our Environment Award.
- Iver Salvesen Green Business Award.
- Rural Business Award.
- Innovation in Farming Award.
- Education Award.
- Highland Community Champion of the Year.
- North East Community Champion of the Year.
- Central Scotland Community Champion of the Year.
- South West Community Champion of the Year.
- South East Community Champion of the Year.
The awards are free and simple to enter via the SLE website, or search for Helping It Happen Awards online.
People can nominate themselves or someone else.
The deadline for entries is Wednesday, August 5.
Finalists will be announced late summer, with the winners being announced and celebrated in a suitable, safe style in autumn 2020.
