The 2021 Community Transport Awards, taking place on 18th November, will recognise examples of excellence from across the sector.

The awards will be taking place online this November and will be free to attend for all CTA members. Nominations are open to any organisation providing accessible and inclusive community transport and who fit the criteria for each award.

The last time CTA held the Community Transport Awards was back in 2019, where over 200 members joined the celebrations in Manchester to highlight the incredible work of the community transport sector. Whilst the roadmap for easing coronavirus restrictions across the UK suggests that, by November, conferences and gatherings may be allowed, the decision has been made to hold this year’s awards online to make sure that everyone can take part.

The last year has been a difficult one for everyone in the community transport sector, but time and again CTA members have done incredible work to support the people in their communities who need them the most.

The 2021 Community Transport Awards will recognise examples of excellence from across the sector in the following categories: 

• Community Transport Provider of the Year: This category is for an organisation who has gone above and beyond to support their communities over the last year. Our judges will be looking at how this organisation has responded to the coronavirus pandemic and how they’ve adapted and diversified their services to meet the needs of the people that rely on them
• Partnership of the Year: This category is for two or more organisations who have worked in partnership for the benefit of their communities over the last year. Our judges will be looking at how these organisations have worked together to identify and solve a problem, using their different skillsets to reach their communities where they wouldn’t have been able to do so individually
• Volunteer of the Year: This category will recognise an exceptional community transport volunteer. Our judges will be looking at how this individual has gone above and beyond over the last year, showing commitment to their organisation and acting as a fantastic example to others.  
• Keeping in Touch: This category is an award for an organisation, or an individual, who has looked for new ways to keep in touch with passengers during the coronavirus pandemic. Our judges will be looking for examples of new, innovative and effective ways that the entrant has kept passengers’ spirits up and connected them to their communities during lockdown.  
• Commitment to Sustainability: This category recognises the community transport sector’s commitment to sustainability and will be awarded to an organisation who can show this commitment across their work. Our judges will be looking at how entrants have taken innovative approaches to sustainability, demonstrating that they’re future-focused and climate-aware, even if the results have not yet fully materialized.  
• Volunteer Car Scheme of the Year: This category recognises a volunteer car scheme who has had a hugely positive impact on their community during the coronavirus pandemic. Our judges will be looking for an organisation who has adapted their work and services to make sure they are still able to meet the needs of passengers in their community.   
• Community Transport Champion: This category recognises a public figure, an organisation or another body who has championed and supported the work of the community transport sector over the last year. This could be a politician, local community leader, funder or business person; our judges will be looking for someone who has supported and raised the profile of community transport either locally or nationally. 
• Photo Competition: This award is for a photograph that captures the essence of community transport’s response to the coronavirus pandemic – showing the hard work, dedication, passion and innovation of our sector in responding to this crisis. This award will be open to a public vote.  
• Lifetime Achievement Award: The lifetime achievement award recognizes an individual who has had a deep and active involvement within the community transport sector over a number of years. Our judges will be looking for someone who has been a passionate advocate of the sector, supporting it both as part of their organisation and also as a leader more widely.  

To submit a nomination, you will need to:

1. Read the Entry Requirements and Awards Criteria document for detailed information on the rules of entry and what our judges are looking for in each category.
2. Download the nomination form for the category you’re submitting in.
3. Upload the completed nomination form and all required supporting evidence to the CTA nominations portal.

Nomination Deadline: Monday 02 August 

For more information, please visit the Community Transport Association website or email events@ctauk.org.

Information Source: Community Transport Association