This Friday, 25th September sees the launch of the annual search to find the winners of the prestigious Cumbria Sports Awards. The event, which will look very different this year, due to COVID-19, has seen organisers Active Cumbria tweak the categories to find those sporting heroes who have supported their members and communities during lockdown.
This year, organisers, Active Cumbria, want to hear all about those from the sports world who have helped their communities during the pandemic. Be it a volunteer from a club who has delivered food and medicine supplies, an inspirational coach who has moved their services online to keep connected with their members, an individual from a physical activity or sports club who has helped older members of their community, or a school who has kept their pupils active by sending home really innovative and interesting activities. Active Cumbria want to hear from you, Awards are split into the following categories: –
COACH OF THE YEAR – Delivering Exceptional Activity
Awarded to inspirational coaches or instructors that can demonstrate continued high quality engagement with their audiences during the pandemic.
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR – Greatest Volunteering Contribution
Awarded to individual sports volunteers that have provided outstanding support to their wider community during the pandemic.
YOUNG VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR – Extra Talented Leadership
Must be under 20 as at the 31st December 2020
Awarded to individual young sports volunteers that have provided outstanding support to their wider community during the pandemic.
COMMUNITY CLUB OR GROUP OF THE YEAR – Quality Local Leadership
Awarded to sports clubs or physical activity groups that have provided exceptional support to their local communities during the pandemic.
ACTIVE EDUCATION AWARD – Extra Active Education
Awarded to schools, colleges or a university that has used a range of creative methods to ensure their pupils/students remained physically active during the pandemic.
BE INSPIRED AWARD – Inspirational Role Model
Awarded to individuals from a sporting or physical activity background that have done something amazing for the benefit of the wider community, an organisation, or a charity during the pandemic.
With so many things disrupted this year and the ongoing social and economic challenges being faced across the sports industry, things are going to look a little different, there will be no presentation dinner. Instead, the event Host, BBC Radio Cumbria’s Mike Zeller will be announcing the winners live on air during the week commencing 23rd November 2020 and we hope that our high-profile sports personalities will play a role in this.
Ian McCoy, Area Stakeholder Manager at United Utilities said: “United Utilities is pleased to once again sponsor the Cumbria Sports Awards. As a major employer in Cumbria we believe it’s really important to invest in local people. We look forward to celebrating the role that sport has played in supporting our communities through COVID-19.”
Richard Johnston, Senior Manager (Operations) at Active Cumbria said: “We know that our sector has really stepped up and helped communities in such an uncertain time, when many clubs and groups have faced huge losses. Clubs, coaches, schools and volunteers have done a tremendous amount to help our communities, whether this has been to help people keep active or help deliver food and medicine supplies. We want to hear about these people, those that have gone above and beyond.”
Nominations
Awards organisers Active Cumbria are asking Cumbrian clubs, governing bodies, sports fans, parents, coaches or teachers to submit their nominations.
Nominations can be made at www.activecumbria.org/cumbriasportsawards
