Proud of Bucks Awards terms and conditions (2026)

It is important that you read the terms and conditions before submitting a nomination. By signing the nomination form (or ticking the box on the online form) you confirm that you have read and agree to these terms and conditions.

1. By submitting a nomination, you confirm that all information submitted by you is true and complete, to the best of your knowledge.
2. By submitting a nomination, you are agreeing to the terms and conditions of the award scheme.
3. The nominee will be expected to consent to being publicly identified and to take part in any media releases connected to the awards. Please consider this when nominating.
4. Buckinghamshire Council reserves the right to disqualify any nomination if there are reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a breach of these terms and conditions.
5. Buckinghamshire Council reserves the right at any time to modify or discontinue (temporarily or permanently) the award scheme with or without prior notice due to reasons outside its control.

6. Buckinghamshire Council reserves the right to contact the nominator (person submitting the nomination) and nominee (person being nominated for an award) for purposes relating to the administration and promotion of the awards. This may include acknowledging receipt of nominations and seeking permission to use information contained within the nomination to promote the awards.

7. If the nominator is under 18, their nomination form must be submitted with the signature of a legal parent or guardian. If the nominee is under 18, their legal parent or guardian will be asked to provide consent for the nominee to be included in the awards.

8. Self-nominations and nominations for close family members (i.e. a parent, child, sibling, spouse, or partner) will not be accepted.

9. Nominations within the respective categories, must be made in recognition of voluntary work that people have done, help they have given, or improvements they have made to communities within their local area outside of their paid role from 1 January 2025 to 31st December 2025.

10. For the Lifetime Achievement Award, the nominee must have been 21 years of age or older on or before 1 January 2026.

11. For Young Volunteer of the Year Award, the nominee must have been younger than 20 years of age, on or before 1 January 2026.

12. Nominations for an individual’s personal achievements, e.g. in a sporting competition or academic field, will not be accepted.

13. In the spirit that these awards are about recognising and celebrating local Community Champions, nominations must be non-political in character. Therefore, nominations will not be accepted for elected Councillors, Members of Parliament, and the like. The Judging Panel reserves the right not to consider any nomination on the grounds that it may be regarded as political in any way.

14. Each award category will have its own Judging Panel. The Judging Panel will be led by a Community Board Chairman or their deputy, assisted by a Community Board /Ward Partnerships Manager.

Each panel will have a minimum of three panel members and may also comprise of:

• Community Board Service Director Champion
• Voluntary and Community Service representative
• Town and Parish Council representative

15. The Judging Panel will make the decision based upon the general principles of good citizenship (people who strive to make their communities safer, better, and happier places).

16. The Judging Panel reserves the right to present the final number of awards appropriate to the nominations received, with a maximum of one overall winner within each category. All shortlisted nominees will be awarded a certificate.

17. The Judging Panel’s decision will be final, and no correspondence will be entered into concerning the outcome of the award decision.

18. The Judging Panel reserves the right to reject any nomination which is publicised independently of the awards process other than by prior agreement with the Community Board Manager.

19. Awards will be presented at the award ceremony at The Oculus, Buckinghamshire Council, The Gateway, Aylesbury, HP19 8FF on the evening of the 1st of June 2026.

20. The Council will hold personal details of Nominators and Nominees until the awards have been presented and these will then be securely destroyed one year after this date. Historical information about previous winners will be retained indefinitely and promoted via such means as the Council’s website.

21. Personal information provided may be used in connection with the National Honours scheme and Buckinghamshire Council Community Boards with prior permission of the nominee. This information will not be used for any purpose other than their administration and promotion (where permission is obtained).