The Community Archives and Heritage Group of the Archives and Records Association (ARA) is looking for nominations for their annual awards.

Every year the Community Archives and Heritage Group (CAHG) gives awards to outstanding groups and projects. Last year it presented awards to three amazing groups under the categories of

• Community Engagement (2021 winner Clements Hall Local History Group, York)
• Gathering and Preserving Heritage (2021 winner and overall winner: Leavesden Hospitals History Association)
• Wellbeing (2021 winner Age Cymru Dyfed – West Wales Veterans Archive)

This year they want to do things a little differently and make it much easier for groups across the UK and Ireland to enter for the awards.

All they need from each group is a 200-word statement that tells them what you value about your community archive. Is it the new stories you discover about the people you work with? Is it the way your research and activities bring your community together? Is it the important artefacts and paperwork you preserve for the next generation? For whatever reason you are involved in your community archive there must be something that makes it special and worth your time and effort.

Groups need to register (free) with CAHG first through a simple form on the website here:  https://www.communityarchives.org.uk/content/get-involved/register

And then fill in the entry form here: https://www.communityarchives.org.uk/content/awards/community-archive-heritage-awards-2022/awards-2022

All they need at this stage is your name, the name of the organisation, an email contact address, your location and 200 words about what you value about your archive.

The closing date for these submissions is 18^th March. Entrants will then be shortlisted and shortlisted groups will be contacted in April for more information.

Winners will be announced at the CAHG Annual conference on 16^th July.

You can find out about previous awards winners here: https://www.communityarchives.org.uk/content/category/awards/previous-award-winners