“During 2015 I have travelled throughout the County and have come across many extraordinary individuals and groups of all ages who voluntarily devote their time and energy to improve the communities in which they live or work, and make Suffolk a better and safer place to live,” said Judith Shallow, High Sheriff of Suffolk.

“The High Sheriff’s Awards, run by Suffolk Community Foundation, seek to recognize local groups and volunteers and celebrate their sterling work. Please help us to identify these groups and individuals whose unselfish efforts make such a difference and deserve our recognition, as much of their work goes on unnoticed,” she said.

Previous awards have attracted many nominations that revealed truly inspirational stories of the ways people are working together in the community, making Suffolk a better place in which to live. The county’s volunteers are unsung heroes that deserve recognition, and the High Sheriff’s Awards are designed to celebrate their contribution to life in Suffolk.

Entries can now be submitted for seven categories:

• Corporate Community Partnership of the Year
• Community Group or Organisation of the Year
• Volunteer of the Year
• Under 25 Young Volunteer of the Year
• Youth Organisation of the Year
• Lifetime Achievement Award
• The High Sheriff’s Special Award for the Arts

The High Sheriff’s Special Award is a new award for this year, sponsored by the Hodge & Shallow Family Fund, to recognise those involved with a charity or community project which best supports vulnerable people in our communities through the beneficial power of the arts.

“This new award has special meaning to me personally, having earlier this year helped to launch a new Arts & Culture Fund with Suffolk Community Foundation,” said High Sheriff Judith Shallow. “I have witnessed first-hand the hugely beneficial and therapeutic effect that the arts can have on local communities, and wish to recognise and celebrate this wonderful work.”

This year’s awards are sponsored by Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, Ipswich Building Society, EDF Energy, Thurlow Nunn Group and Go Ape! In each category the chosen winner will receive a trophy and up to £1,000 as a cash prize for their voluntary organisation or community group.

Nominations for volunteers and not-for-profit groups benefitting Suffolk people need to be made on a nomination form that is available online at http://suffolkcf.org.uk/grants/high-sheriffs-awards-2/ or by calling Melanie Willis on 01473 786919.

Entries must be received by Suffolk Community Foundation by 25^th January 2016. The awards will be presented at a ceremony hosted by BBC Radio Suffolk’s presenter Lesley Dolphin and Suffolk Community Foundation’s Development Director Tim Holder at the Museum of East Anglian Life, near Stowmarket on Thursday 31^st March 2016.

The High Sheriff’s Fund is also able to offer grants of up to £1,500 to support work with young people (aged 8-25 years) that improves their communities and lives. Since the role of the High Sheriff is associated with law and order, all grant requests should demonstrate good citizenship, crime prevention or community safety, thereby helping to make Suffolk a better place in which to live. To check if you are eligible to apply for a grant, please view the criteria for the fund at http://suffolkcf.org.uk/grants/high-sheriffs-fund-2/ The deadline for grant applications is 18th December 2015.