Join us in celebrating the heart of Dorking – our wonderful community!
The BID Community Spirit Awards celebrate the independent spirit that helps to make Dorking a wonderful place to visit, live, work, and enjoy. We are honouring three Dorkinians who have made a significant impact on our community.
Entering is easy.
Nominate yourself or someone who inspires you. Entries close at midnight on 31 October 2023.
Judging is based on criteria aligned to the awards and is outlined for each category below. All judging will be completed by the middle of November 2023.
Finalists will be invited to the Very Dorkensian Christmas Festival and award recipients will be announced live on social media and at the event at 3pm on stage.
The Categories
Sustainability Champion
Our sustainability champion can be any individual who is leading, or who is taking steps to lead change in their organisation, business or as an individual to transform our community into a more sustainable place. We are celebrating the sustainable qualities we see or hope to see in our community. It is important for us to share and champion today, everyday and to mark the coronation of the new monarch. This award aims to celebrate and recognise those who put our planet before profit, who make change happen, the change-makers that champion it, and those who are leading projects or businesses doing things differently to address sustainability issues.
Nominate someone/Nominate yourself:
200-400 words: Sustainability: How do you/this nominee demonstrate their commitment to sustainability? How is this individual leading, or taking steps to lead change in their organisation, business or as an individual to transform our community into a more sustainable place. Please provide examples.
Nominate someone/Nominate yourself
Volunteer of the Year
Let’s hear it for the volunteers! We are recognising those who do a bit extra for their local community. Volunteers add value to our local community that is difficult to quantify. Volunteering is not driven by money. It is how we give back, contribute, and help others to make a successful contribution to society at large. Any volunteer can apply for this award.
Nominate someone/Nominate yourself:
200-400 words: Volunteer: How is this person or organisation embodying giving back, contributing, and helping others to make a successful contribution to Dorking and to society at large?
Nominate someone/Nominate yourself
High Street Hero – Best High Street Business
Are you a bricks and mortar, high street business that contributes to the success of Dorking High Street? What actions are you taking to help others, rejuvenate the high street, and help others? You might be a mentor to other businesses, or perhaps you are working to drive footfall to other parts of the high streets. Maybe you reserve a space in your shop for artisans or local businesses without a high street presence. Perhaps you’re encouraging new technologies, going green and helping others to try new approaches. This can be a new business, a start up, a long-standing business – it is all good. You must have a high street shop to qualify.
Nominate someone/Nominate yourself:
200 – 400 words: High Street Hero: We need a hero! Tell us how this business contributes to the success of Dorking High Street. What actions are they taking to lift up others, to support and inspire and help the high street, and to help other businesses? They must be a high street business to qualify.