Guidelines
About the Community Service Awards
Community Service Awards are given to individuals and groups in recognition of significant voluntary service.
The Christchurch City Council created the Community Service Awards as a way to thank and honour those who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service. Recognising and honouring community-focused initiatives sets a standard for service, encourages a sustained commitment to civic participation, and inspires others to make service a central part of their lives.
The service undertaken should be of a voluntary nature. A paid employee may be eligible where the work undertaken is beyond the scope of that person's normal job description and the nominee has spent some of their own non-work time in the project. In this circumstance either one of the nominators should be an employer who states that the work is outside of normal work or a supporting letter supplied from an employer stating the same.
The Community Service Awards recognise voluntary efforts that benefit local communities. This may include work in the following areas: youth, older persons, education, cultural, church, recreation, sport and community service sectors.
People will be eligible for Community Service Awards in the area that they do the work in, however, if the work is for a metropolitan organisation that covers more than two board areas then the nomination shall be considered in the community board area that the nominee lives in.
Youth service awards are presented in recognition of significant voluntary service carried out by residents aged 25 or under, living in either the Riccarton/Wigram or Spreydon/Heathcote Board areas only. This award is to recognise individual effort rather than that of a whole group or organisation.
Community Service Award nominations are considered and decided by the respective Community Boards. The community board areas are as follows:
- Burwood/Pegasus
- Fendalton/Waimairi
- Hagley/Ferrymead
- Riccarton/Wigram
- Spreydon/Heathcote
- Lyttleton/Mt Herbert
- Akaroa/Wairewa
How it works
- The nomination form must be signed by two nominators and both nominators should be aware of the details of the nomination.
- Any community organisation, club or society may make a nomination. Two executive officers of the organisation should sign the nomination and record their title of office.
- Letters of support or evidence supporting the work can also be submitted with the nomination. It is highly recommended to supply as much detail as possible to support the nominations in order to assist the Community Boards in their deliberations. Length and type of service is particularly helpful.
- The length of voluntary work shall be considered alongside the nature of the work undertaken.
- Community Service Award nominations are considered and decided by community boards.
- Individuals shall be eligible to receive only one Community Service Award for the same work. This does not apply if a recipient has received a youth award.
- Community Service Awards are presented to recipients at a function held by the local community board.
Completing the nomination form
Here is some information about some of the questions contained within the nomination form.
- Q2 What activity/service has the nominee been involved in?
Please tell us the nominated person's role in the organisation and how she/he contributes. Where does the volunteer’s work take place? e.g. Sarah Bloggs has been a committee member of the Help Club for the last 10 years and along with giving up to six hours a week to the elderly at three rest homes in Beckenham, she was our Club President for three years and Secretary for two years. - Q3 How long has the nominee been involved in this activity/service?
Please tell us how long the nominee has been involved in the activity/club/organisation and approximately how much time the nominee voluntarily gives to the activity/club/organisation per week, month or year. e.g. We are nominating Sarah Bloggs for running craft classes for the elderly in the local rest homes in Beckenham for the last 10 years. Sarah Bloggs provides classes and help each week. Sarah visits three rest homes twice a week for an hour. - Q4 Please tell us how the activity/service the nominee does has helped the community
Please tell us how the activity helps the community.
e.g. By providing craft classes to the elderly Sarah is stimulating them to think as well as exercise their hands and creative abilities. The craft classes allow the residents of the rest homes to make their own gifts for family and friends for birthdays and Christmas, this saves them having to ask others to do their gift buying. - Q5 Supporting information
It is helpful to the community board when considering nominations, if letters or documents of support are provided. These can be from outside clubs/organisations or people. It would be preferable that support was provided by those other than the nominators.
NB: The more information that is provided with the nomination the more assistance is given to Board members when they consider the applications.
Reasons for the nomination
A chance to tell us why your nominated person deserves a 2012 Community Service Award.
Completed nomination form must be returned no later than 5pm on Friday 30 March 2012.
Nomination form
A downloadable nomination form is available here.
