Churches are so much more than just places of worship. From foodbanks to credit unions, churches across the UK provide a growing list of essential services for people in urgent need. We’ve long seen the power of churches to bring communities together and help them thrive.

The volunteer awards centre around the brilliant contribution that volunteers make to both caring for and making best use of churches, and especially using churches to reach out to local communities and using the building as a hub for activity.

These awards celebrate that often, finding a wider community use for a church, chapel or meeting house, can make it a thriving and busy building. Activities and engagement can help stimulate community or grant funding support for repair and conservation projects, and those in turn help to maintain suitable space for even more activities. This makes for a sustainable church.

To nominate your church, chapel or meeting house for this award, you just need to be able to tell us about the people involved, the fantastic things you do and the difference that it makes.