The nominations process for the 1V Awards Dinner 2024 has been launched.

The 1V Awards Dinner, sponsored by Together Housing Association Newground Together and supported by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, will take place on 17th February 2024 at King George’s Hall, Blackburn. The Awards are run by charity One Voice Blackburn.

The 1V Awards have become the most prestigious community accolades in the town, celebrating the success of volunteers, community groups, charities and local people. 

Individuals and groups can enter multiple categories, and entries can be submitted on behalf of nominees or themselves. The organisers have requested those sending nominations to include as much information as possible within the word-limit which is 200 words.  The closing date for nominations is 17th November 2023.

One Voice Blackburn is a charity that aspires to create cohesive, aspirational and confident communities in Blackburn with Darwen. It was set up in 2011 and won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2018.

The 1V Awards Dinner was first held in 2013. This will be the 11th awards dinner held by the charity which also carries out community engagement work, consultation and events.

There will be eight awards presented on the evening of the 1V Awards Dinner. The following awards will have nominations: the Aya Hachem Young Person of the Year sponsored by Blackburn College; Group of the Year sponsored by Blackburn Youth Zone; 1V Man of the Year sponsored by Reel Cinema Blackburn; 1V Woman of the Year sponsored by Lancashire Mind; and the 1V Health Award sponsored by Spring North.

There is a new award for 2024 – The 1V Apprentice of the Year, which is sponsored by Electricity North West.

The John Roberts Outstanding Achievement Award, sponsored by Let’s Foster and the Leader’s Award, sponsored by Blackburn with Darwen Council, are selected by the trustees of One Voice Blackburn.

The event will also feature key-note speeches and celebrate the work of One Voice Blackburn.  The event theme will be announced in October.

Together Housing Association and Newground Together are headline sponsors of the 1V Awards Dinner. Angela Gibbs, Board Member and Equality Diversity and Inclusivity Champion to the Board said, “Building cohesion, improving health and well-being, helping people to reach their full potential – this is vitally important across all of our communities and Together Housing Group is delighted to headline sponsor the 1V Awards Dinner again to celebrate their truly inspirational work in Blackburn and Darwen.”

Sundas Bakhat, 1V Awards Manager, explains, “The 1V Awards Dinner has grown in each of the last 11 years, and we are absolutely thrilled to have increased the number of awards again in 2024. There is an abundance of talent in Blackburn with Darwen and this is the ideal place to recognise volunteers, charity workers, and local people who have made a real difference to their town or it’s people.”

The 1V Awards Dinner will take place on Saturday, 17th February 2024