Nominate your local heroes for a 2025 Hillingdon Community Award

Nominations have opened today (Monday 28 October) for the popular scheme, run by Hillingdon Council, which celebrates the unsung heroes that support our communities and is now in its fourth year. 

If you know someone who's demonstrated exceptional bravery, always goes the extra mile to help others, or has dedicated their lives to better those of others, it's simple to nominate them. 

It doesn't have to be an individual, as the awards also recognise the efforts of local community groups too, such as the Friends of Northwood Recreation Ground, who were awarded a Bronze award last year for their group's conservation and maintenance work.  

Ben Rawson-Jones, of the Friends, said: "It was a huge honour for the Friends to be given an award from the council for our ongoing efforts to improve our local green space for the community.  

"Such an award not only makes us feel valued as a volunteer group but will hopefully inspire others to step up and try to make a positive difference too. If you're aware of any unsung heroes in your community, it's definitely worth putting them forward." 

The awards categories are: Bravery, Helping the Community, Helping Vulnerable People and Promoting Health and Wellbeing. 

Winners will be announced in March and presented their awards at a special ceremony at the Civic Centre in Uxbridge on Wednesday 16 April, by the Leader of the Council, Cllr Ian Edwards and the Mayor of Hillingdon, Cllr Colleen Sullivan.    

Cllr Edwards said: "Each year, we hear stories of people who give up their time to better the lives of others, without the expectation of reward or validation.  

"These unsung heroes make Hillingdon a better place to live, enabling individuals and communities to thrive and prosper to the benefit of all of us - and for that, they are real stars.  

"If you know someone who deserves recognition for their hard work, please send us your nominations." 

Deadline for nominations is midnight on Monday 17 February. 

To nominate, visit www.hillingdon.gov.uk/community-awards-nomination. Alternatively, you can collect a paper nomination form from any Hillingdon library or the Civic Centre, in Uxbridge.