HERE'S a chance to honour those groups that make a real difference to their communities and helps to ensure they are a great place to live.

Everyone in Craven is being urged to nominate a body of people that makes such a contribution for this year’s Community Group Award in the Craven Community Champions Awards.

The awards panel is looking for community groups that:

• Attract and encourage new members to get involved in helping others within the community

• Makes itself welcoming and accessible to everyone in the community

• Makes a positive difference to and improves the well-being of a community.

If you know a community group that fits the bill, then complete a nomination form before Friday, September 5. Nomination forms are available on the Craven District Council website, at www.cravendc.gov.uk/communitychampions, or you can pick one up from any local participating shop or service, library or doctors surgery.

The Community Group Award is sponsored by Keelham Farm Shop, a Yorkshire business for more than 40 years that will be opening its second shop in Skipton in early 2015. Victoria Robertshaw, co-owner of Keelham Farm Shop, said: “This award is close to our hearts at Keelham Farm Shop and we are very happy to support it. At Thornton we’ve got behind many local people and groups who are passionate about what they do and want to make a difference.

"Far too many to mention, we have backed community projects in loads of ways; from having fun to raise funds for charity, to coming up with creative ideas for land-art in fields, to growing fruit and veg for others to buy in the shop.

"We all know someone who is completely dedicated and goes the extra mile to help the community, and I’m really looking forward to getting to know the local groups at the heart of Skipton.”

All entries will be considered by the awards panel and all shortlisted entrants will be invited to attend a special awards evening at the Coniston Hotel on October 23.

Last year the Yorkshire Housing Computer Club won the Best Community Group Award for enabling older people to develop computer skills such as emailing, Skyping, shopping online and even using Google Earth.

The club was run by volunteers who travelled more than 50 miles each week to commit to its work.

A spokesman for the club said: “The group was absolutely delighted to win the award and lots of the club members feel that it has provided an excellent opportunity to enter the digital age. The ongoing commitment of the volunteers who run the club has provided excellent community benefit and without them it would not have been possible for older people to learn new digital skills.”