Mayor’s Civic Award Policy

Document Version Control

Version No.

Date Change Made

Changes Made By (initial)

Comment

 

 

 

Reviewed at MTC Full Council 7.10.19 Agenda item 11.9

 

 

 

Reviewed at MTC Full Council

16.12.19 Agenda item 10.6

1.0

N/A

NM

Reviewed at MTC Full Council

03-10-22 Agenda item 8.3
2.0 13/02/2026

NM

Updated award category limits and ceremony term

 

Contents

toc goes in here

1. Background

1.1          In Macclesfield there are many individuals who volunteer their time and expertise for the good of the community, or add social, cultural, economic or environmental value to Macclesfield.

1.2          The Mayor of Macclesfield’s Civic Awards recognises and celebrates people who have volunteered their time and energy to help others or benefit the town. The awards will be presented to the most deserving individuals.

2. Award Categories

2.1 These categories are for guidance only and may be subject to change by the Mayor during their term.

  1. Community Involvement Civic Award: recognises individuals, or community voluntary groups, who have made a positive contribution to the town. This could range from organising community events, improving facilities for a neighbourhood, supporting a charity in their own time or helping an individual. 
  2. Youth Civic Award: recognises a young person or group of young people aged 18 or under, who have made a positive contribution to their local community. Nominations would be for exceptional young people who have helped others or shown outstanding commitment in improving their community. 
  3. Sporting and Leisure Civic Award: recognises a group or individual’s sporting/leisure achievement for Macclesfield be it playing, organising or contributing to local sporting development. This award may be presented to a individual or group who have represented Macclesfield at local, national or international level. 
  4. Art and Culture Civic Award: recognises an individual’s work in a voluntary or professional level who has made a significant or outstanding contribution to the arts and culture in Macclesfield. This could be drama, dance, music, arts and crafts, photography or the delivery of an event. 
  5. Environment Civic Award: recognises an individual or group who has made a significant difference to the conservation or protection of an area within the town. It could be a recycling champion or someone involved in an environmental project. 
  6. Independent Business Civic Award: recognises an independent business in Macclesfield whose presence has had a positive impact on the local community. It could be a business that has created local jobs or invested in Macclesfield. 
  7. Ambassador of Macclesfield Civic Award: recognises an individual or group who represents Macclesfield in a positive light outside of the area (locally, nationally or internationally). 
  8. The Pride of Macclesfield Civic Award: recognises a member of the community or a group who have gone above and beyond to improve their local neighbourhood or area.
  9. Lifetime Achievement Civic Award: recognises an individual’s continued commitment to the community over an extended period of time, ideally over fifteen years.  
  10. Mayor’s Civic Award: recognises an individual of the Mayor’s choosing who has gone above and beyond be it in service years, volunteering at multiple groups or a key fundraiser. 

3. Methodology

3.1 Individuals who meet the criteria may be nominated by any two residents (except themselves or close relatives) by completing the Civic Award Nomination Form on our website, which can be found here.

3.2 The Mayor’s Office will validate the details and prepare a briefing paper for the Review Panel.

3.3 A  Review Panel comprising of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Past Mayor, will judge all entries and make recommendations for winners in each category.

3.4 Individuals would then be notified of the award and invited (with a guest) to attend the Mayor’s Civic Awards Ceremony, during which the individual or group would be formally recognised. There would also be publicity for themselves, their deeds and the group to which they belong.

3.5 The Mayor would present each recipient with a Certificate and appropriate award, such as a lapel badge.

4. Criteria

The contribution is solely to the benefit of the Macclesfield community,

4.1 Nominations must demonstrate that the individual, group or business has made a significant and positive contribution to the Macclesfield community.

4.2 The contribution must:

  • Primarily benefit the residents, environment, economy, culture or community life of Macclesfield;
  • Be over and above normal professional or contractual duties (except where recognised under specific categories such as Independent Business or Extra Mile-type contributions, if applicable);
  • Demonstrate commitment, impact and measurable or observable benefit to the town.

4.3 Contributions may be voluntary or professional in nature, provided that the impact on the Macclesfield community is clear.

4.5 In assessing nominations, the Review Panel may consider:

  • Length and consistency of service;
  • Degree of personal initiative;
  • Positive impact on others;
  • Wider contribution to civic pride or town reputation;
  • Any exceptional circumstances.
4.6 The Review Panel retains discretion to determine whether a nomination meets the spirit and intent of the Awards Scheme.

5. Instructions

5.1 All nominations must be submitted using the Civic Award Nomination Form
5.2 No self nominations or nominations from relatives
5.3 The nominee must have made significant and sustained contribution to the Macclesfield community.
5.4 Nominees do not need to be residents of Macclesfield, but their contribution must clearly benefit the Macclesfield community.

6. Roles

Mayor’s Office

  • Prepare advertisements for the scheme detailing the purpose, criteria, eligibility, contact details and key dates
  • Promote the Civic Awards via media coverage and handle enquiries pertaining to the Civic Awards
  • Receive and collate all nominations
  • Check all nominations meet the eligibility criteria
  • Produce a report summarising all the eligible nominations for the Review Panel
  • Following the review process, contact all the proposers to notify them of the result; whether their nominee was rejected or accepted to receive an award
  • Following the review process, contact the award winners to invite them and a guest to the Civic Award Ceremony
  • Following the review process, invite the proposers (and guest) of winning nominees to the Civic Award Ceremony, if capacity and funding allows
  • Collaborate with the Mayor to create certificates for the winners
  • Collaborate with the Mayor to plan a suitable accolade for the winners
  • Annually, agree a budget for the Civic Award Scheme.

Mayor

  • Champion the Civic Award Scheme,
  • Should there be a tied vote in the review process, make the final decision on winners,
  • Make a presentation to each winning nominee at the Civic Award Ceremony.

Members

  • Support the Civic Award Scheme.