Nominations for the Bedford Sports and Physical Activity Awards close at 5pm on Tuesday 17 November. Here are the 14 categories and how to nominate someone.
Nominations for this year’s Bedford Sports and Physical Activity Awards close at 5pm on Tuesday 17 November. That leaves a week to put forward a player, coach, volunteer, club or school from anywhere in Bedford Borough.
The council announced the deadline on Monday. It says a nomination takes about ten minutes.
The winners will be named at a ceremony at the Bedford Corn Exchange on Monday 7 December. The council says everyone nominated will be invited.
The 14 categories
The awards page lists these categories:
| Category | Who it is for | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Personality of the Year | An athlete aged 18 or over with a successful year | Jewson Partnership Solutions |
| Junior Personality of the Year | An athlete under 18 with a successful year | Rotary Club of Bedford Park |
| Adult Disability Sports Personality of the Year | A disabled sportsperson aged 18 or over | Manor Hospital, Circle Health Group |
| Junior Disability Sports Personality of the Year | A disabled sportsperson under 18 | Gale Family Charity Trust |
| Club of the Year | An accredited club with a range of programmes | Be Active |
| Community Person Award | Someone getting more people active locally | Bedford Sports Foundation |
| Community Club / Group Award | A club or group getting more people active locally | Better, Bedford Leisure Facilities |
| Primary School of the Year | A primary school that keeps pupils active | Times Tables Rock Stars |
| Secondary School of the Year | A secondary school that keeps pupils active | DJT Surfacing Ltd |
| Team of the Year | A team with a successful year | University of Bedfordshire |
| Coach of the Year | A paid or unpaid coach | The Bedford College Group |
| Unsung Hero | Club officials, adult volunteers and fundraisers | Harpur Trust |
| Young Volunteer of the Year | A volunteer under 18 | Bedford Physical Education Old Students’ Association |
| Service to Sport | Long service to a sport or club | Bedford Borough Council |
The age cut-off for the adult, junior and young volunteer categories is the nominee’s age on 17 November, the closing date.
The community categories are not only for competitive sport. The council says they cover “sport and physical activity, dance, exercise or healthy lifestyle activities”.
What happened last year
The 2025 awards were the 30th. The council’s report of the night says more than 550 guests attended. It says 125 nominees were recognised across the 14 categories, with six Special Commendation Awards on top.
Among the 2025 winners, the council named:
- Star Rowing Club, Club of the Year, after crews qualified for Henley Royal Regatta and won medals at the World Masters Regatta in Spain
- Bedford Ladies Tug of War Team, Team of the Year, after national league titles in four weight classes and medals at the British, Irish and World Championships
- Livingstone Primary School, Primary School of the Year
- Bedford Academy, Secondary School of the Year
What it means for you
If you know someone who deserves it, you have until 5pm on Tuesday 17 November.
- Nominate as a guest using the online nomination form. You do not need an account.
- Or sign in to a Council Services account and nominate from there.
- Pick the category carefully. Each one has its own age limit or focus, set out on the awards page.
- Say what the person, team or club achieved in the past year. The categories reward results, dedication and community impact.
Two categories, Unsung Hero and Young Volunteer of the Year, exist for volunteers.
For more going on in the borough this month, see what’s on in Bedford.
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