How Broxbourne's Everyday Heroes Are Writing the Next Chapter of Our Shared Story

There's a particular kind of magic that settles over Broxbourne Borough as autumn gives way to winter. The leaves turn golden along the River Lea, the shop windows begin their festive transformation, and something else stirs in the air, a collective warmth that has nothing to do with the weather. It's the season when we pause, look around, and truly see each other.

This year, that moment of recognition is arriving with renewed purpose and celebration. The Broxtown Community Champion Awards are returning, not merely as an annual tradition, but as something altogether more ambitious: a tapestry of stories waiting to be told, a chorus of voices deserving to be heard, and a celebration that honours not just one hero, but the many who make our borough extraordinary.

Last year marked a milestone. We stood together in Hoddesdon to honour a single Community Champion - Kev Orkian. One individual whose quiet dedication, whose steady hands and open heart, embodied everything we cherish about Broxbourne. It was a powerful moment, watching someone who'd spent years lifting others finally receive the recognition they so richly deserved, yet never sought.

But as the applause faded and the evening drew to a close, something became abundantly clear: one award simply wasn't enough. Not because the recipient wasn't worthy, they were, entirely, but because across every street, in every neighbourhood, behind the doors of community centres and local shops, in gardens and parks and village halls, from Waltham Cross to Hoddesdon, there were hundreds more stories waiting to be told.

So this year, we're doing something different. We're expanding our vision, widening our lens, and creating space to celebrate the full spectrum of community spirit that makes Broxbourne not just a place on a map, but a home.

Picture the person who always shows up. The one who remembers your name at the food bank, who organised that street party when everyone was still recovering from lockdown isolation, who somehow always knows when someone needs help, and appears with exactly what's required, whether it's a listening ear, a warm meal, or practical advice.

This flagship award seeks that rare individual whose impact ripples outward in ways that can't always be measured but are deeply felt. We're looking for someone whose service isn't occasional or convenient, it's woven into the fabric of their life. They volunteer when it's raining. They show up when it's inconvenient. They give when they have little to spare. And somehow, in doing so, they inspire everyone around them to be a little bit better, a little bit kinder, a little bit more connected.

Perhaps they've transformed a struggling community project into a thriving hub. Maybe they've mentored dozens of young people, showing them pathways they never knew existed. Or perhaps their gift is simpler but no less profound, they make people feel seen, valued, and less alone.

👉 Click here to submit your nominations

Somewhere in Broxbourne right now, someone is tending a community garden that's become a sanctuary for both people and wildlife. Someone else is rallying neighbours to reduce plastic waste, one reusable bag at a time. A local advocate is fighting to preserve green spaces, ensuring our children inherit not just prosperity but beauty.

This award celebrates those who understand that caring for our community means caring for the earth beneath our feet. These are the individuals and groups leading conservation efforts along our waterways, establishing wildlife corridors, launching innovative recycling initiatives, or educating others about sustainable living, not with lectures, but with patient, practical example.

They're the ones who see potential where others see waste, who transform neglected spaces into thriving ecosystems, who remind us that environmental action isn't about grand gestures, it's about daily choices, collective commitment, and teaching the next generation that stewardship matters.

👉 Click here to submit your nominations

Walk down any high street, and you'll pass businesses that are so much more than commercial enterprises. That café that displays artwork from local schools. The shop that employs young people who struggled to find opportunities elsewhere. The restaurant that donates meals to families in crisis. The small business owner who sponsors the youth football team, mentors aspiring entrepreneurs, or simply creates a workplace where dignity and respect aren't just policies, they're practice.

This category honours those businesses that understand their success is intertwined with community wellbeing. They don't just extract value, they invest it back. They hire locally, support local causes, reduce their environmental footprint, and treat employees as valued partners rather than expendable resources.

These are businesses that prove profit and purpose aren't enemies but allies, that demonstrate how commercial success can coexist with social responsibility, and that make us proud to say, "That's a Broxbourne Borough business."

👉 Click here to submit your nominations

Every evening, across our borough, something remarkable happens. Youth clubs open their doors. Sports teams gather for practice. Art classes arrange their supplies. Support groups create safe spaces for people navigating life's challenges. Historical societies preserve our past. Cultural organisations celebrate our diversity.

These groups are the invisible infrastructure that holds communities together. They're where friendships form, where isolation is combated, where skills are learned, where belonging is cultivated. They're often run by volunteers who work second jobs to keep the lights on, who fundraise relentlessly, who plan events around their day jobs and family commitments.

This award recognises those organisations that consistently show up, year after year, creating opportunities for connection, growth, and joy. Whether they're serving ten people or a thousand, whether their focus is sport, arts, education, or social support, they're transforming lives, one gathering at a time.

👉 Click here to submit your nominations

In every community, there are people whose names you might not know but whose presence you'd certainly miss. They're the ones sorting donations at charity shops, delivering meals to the housebound, coaching children's teams, befriending the lonely, maintaining community spaces, driving people to hospital appointments, or showing up to every community clean-up, every fundraiser, every call for help.

They don't do it for recognition. They don't collect testimonials or count their hours. They simply see need and respond. They possess that increasingly rare quality: selfless dedication to others' wellbeing without expectation of reward or even acknowledgment.

This award exists because these volunteers deserve to be seen. Their consistency, their reliability, their willingness to give time they often don't have, these quiet acts of service are the foundation upon which stronger communities are built.

👉 Click here to submit your nominations

Some contributions can't be measured in years but in generations. Some legacies can't be captured in a single story but require a whole chapter, or perhaps an entire book.

This special award is reserved for those rare individuals whose service to Broxbourne spans decades, whose influence has shaped the very character of our community, whose work has created pathways others now walk. They're the founders who established organisations that still serve thousands. They're the advocates who fought battles that created the protections we now take for granted. They're the quiet pillars whose steady presence has anchored our community through change and challenge.

Their impact echoes forward. The young people they mentored are now mentoring others. The institutions they built continue to serve. The values they championed are now community standards. This isn't just recognition, it's reverence for a life dedicated to making Broxbourne better for everyone.

👉 Click here to submit your nominations

Beyond the categories and criteria, what truly makes a Community Champion? We've identified four essential qualities:

Commitment isn't about grand gestures, it's about showing up consistently, even when enthusiasm has faded and obstacles have emerged. It's the difference between a fleeting interest and genuine dedication.

Impact means creating real, tangible change. Whether it's measurable outcomes like "served 500 meals" or more intangible influences like "gave people hope", true champions leave their community demonstrably better than they found it.

Inspiration is perhaps the most powerful quality of all. The best champions don't just act, they inspire others to join them. Their enthusiasm is contagious, their vision compelling, their example motivating. They create movements, not monuments.

Integrity ensures that all this activity springs from authentic concern rather than self-promotion. True champions do good because it's right, not because it's recognised. This award is often the first time they've accepted public acknowledgment, and usually, they're slightly uncomfortable with the attention.

Here's what makes this celebration unique: you're not just observers, you're co-authors. You know the heroes in your neighbourhood, the unsung champions in your circle, the dedicated souls who've made your life or someone else's immeasurably better.

Maybe it's your neighbour who organised support for isolated residents during difficult times. Perhaps it's the teacher who runs after-school programmes on their own time. It could be the business owner who quietly sponsors community events, the group that turned an empty lot into a thriving garden, or the volunteer who's been serving the same cause for thirty years without fanfare. The Teachers, Coaches, Dinner ladies, Midwives, Builders or Corner shop owner, you know what I mean.

You can nominate individuals, groups, or organisations for as many categories as appropriate. And yes, if you've been making a difference, you're absolutely allowed to nominate yourself, we know that's uncomfortable, but sometimes being seen is the first step to inspiring others to act.

👉 Click here to submit your nominations

The nomination window opens now and extends through mid-November 2025, giving everyone time to reflect, consult, and submit thoughtful nominations that tell the full story of someone's contribution.

In early December, we'll announce the shortlist, itself a moment of celebration, as being shortlisted means your community has noticed and values your contribution. Then, as the year draws to a close and festive lights illuminate our streets, we'll gather for the Broxtown Community Champion Celebration Event.

Imagine that evening: a room filled with people who've dedicated themselves to others, finally receiving recognition from the community they've served. Supporters cheering for their heroes. Stories shared, tears shed, laughter ringing out. It won't just be an awards ceremony, it'll be a mirror held up to Broxbourne, reflecting the very best of who we are.

In an era when headlines too often focus on division, conflict, and despair, these awards are an act of defiance. They declare that kindness still exists, that community still matters, that ordinary people doing extraordinary things are everywhere, if only we take time to look.

They remind us that heroism isn't reserved for the famous or powerful. It's found in the daily decisions to help rather than ignore, to include rather than exclude, to build up rather than tear down.

And perhaps most importantly, they inspire. When we celebrate community champions, we don't just honour the past, we shape the future. Young people see that service matters. Struggling volunteers are reminded their work has meaning. New residents discover the values that make Broxbourne special. Everyone is invited to ask themselves: "How can I contribute?"

👉 Click here to submit your nominations

So look around your neighbourhood. Think about the people who make your life better. Remember the moments when someone showed up for you or for someone you love. Consider the groups that create belonging, the businesses that strengthen community, the volunteers who give endlessly.

Then tell their story. Submit their nomination. Give them the recognition they'd never seek for themselves.

Because this isn't just about awards, it's about weaving together the thousands of individual threads of kindness, service, and dedication that create the rich tapestry of our borough’s community life.

👉 Click here to submit your nominations

Let's celebrate not just the champions we're about to discover, but the community we're continuing to build together, one act of kindness at a time.

The Broxtown Community Champion Awards 2025: Honouring the heart of our borough. 💫🌟

Note: If you would like to volunteer your time in organising this event, please get in touch - [email protected]

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Cheers,
Editor-in-chief | Emeka Ogbonnaya

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