The OALC Annual Awards are new for 2026!

We would like to celebrate all the fantastic work that councils, their staff and councillors do every day - from the largest town to the smallest parish council. The categories for 2026 are:

• Clerk of the Year - this is open to any clerk or officer who has 'gone the extra mile' for their council and/or residents and we would love to hear about the positive impact of their work

• Councillor of the Year - any parish or town councillor who has 'gone above and beyond' would be eligible for this award - this could be anything from introducing a new idea to building relationships within the community

• Community Event of the Year - we would love to hear about your events, from Remembrance parades to summer fetes, Christmas events to Easter egg hunts, and everything in between!

• Community Project of the Year - perhaps your council has used CIL or S106 funds for a new project, or has launched an innovative project to tackle climate change - we look forward to hearing about your projects over the past 12 months and the improvements these have made to your community.

• Long Service Award - this award is open to any councillor, clerk or officer who has dedicated at least ten years to local council service. You may wish to nominate them as they could be close to retiring, or just as an opportunity to show them your gratitude. 

The nomination form is very simple to complete and has a free text box for you to tell us why your nominee deserves their award. Please submit nominations by 5pm on Friday 12th June.

Each winner will receive a certificate at our AGM on 25 June 2026 as well as a training voucher, which can be used towards any of our courses.

Please ensure you complete all the sections for your nomination to be accepted.