Nominations Open For Love Barrow Awards Celebrating Community Heroes
Residents across Furness are being encouraged to nominate local people, community groups, and organisations for the 2026 Love Barrow Awards, an annual celebration recognising those who have made a meaningful impact on the lives of others.
The awards will recognise achievements across a variety of categories, including Student Of The Year, Teacher Of The Year, Carer Of The Year, Citizen Of The Year, Young Citizen Of The Year, Community Focused Business Of The Year, Group Or Project Of The Year, and the Oak Tree Award. From all nominations received, 24 finalists will be selected to attend the awards ceremony at Abbey House Hotel on April 16, 2027.
The previous edition of the awards attracted 674 nominations across eight categories, while the People's Choice Award received more than 2,500 public votes, demonstrating the strong level of community support for the initiative. Voting for the 2027 People's Choice Award is scheduled to begin on January 10, 2027, while the Spirit Of Collaboration Award and Ambassador Of The Year will be decided through a separate selection process.
Alongside the launch of this year's awards, organisers have introduced a new podcast called Community Crumpet, hosted by Tony Callister. The podcast aims to share inspiring stories from local residents, charities, volunteers, and community organisations throughout the year, extending the spirit of the awards beyond the annual ceremony.
David Guest, Director of the Love Barrow Community Awards CIC, said the initiative is about recognising people who quietly make a difference every day. He explained that the awards provide an opportunity for the community to thank those individuals while the new podcast offers a platform to continue celebrating local achievements and encouraging positive community connections throughout the year.
The launch event also featured an Asset Based Community Development networking session, bringing together local organisations to share skills, resources, and ideas. The event received support from Barrow Rising, Furness College, the University of Cumbria, and MKM Barrow, highlighting the collaborative effort behind the initiative.
Organisers are encouraging residents to submit nominations and help ensure the contributions of local volunteers, teachers, students, carers, businesses, and community champions receive the recognition they deserve. The Love Barrow Awards continue to play an important role in celebrating the people who strengthen communities across Furness.
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