2024 SPECIAL AWARD ENTRY FORMS

Our sponsored Special Awards are organised in parallel to the main competition and look to reward initiatives focused on improving your community. Entry is open to all TidyTowns Groups as well as other interested individuals or groups. We are delighted to announce some new sponsors under our Special Awards category for 2024.

If you encounter any difficulties accessing any of the special awards application forms, please contact the TidyTowns Unit for assistance by email tidytowns@drcd.gov.ie or on 01 773 6988 or 01 773 6912.

Entry into the Special Awards is purely voluntary and non-entry will not affect performance in the main competition.  

Please email your completed application forms to the correct email address, clearly marked with the title of the Special Award.

No. 1

Tree Project Award

Prize Fund €1,000

Sponsored by the Tree Council of Ireland

The Tree Project Award is an initiative that values the positive influence of trees on the overall ambience of a town or village. It places importance not only on the initial planting but also on the ongoing maintenance and establishment of trees throughout their lifespan. This award recognises the TidyTowns Committee that through their hard work has fostered an urban woodland atmosphere within their community.

The project may equally focus on the preservation of old and established trees, acknowledging their natural, historical, cultural, botanical, or landscape significance.

The size and scope of the undertaken project, along with the tangible benefits it brings to the community, will be carefully evaluated.

To apply for the award, please use the Tree Project Award entry form and attach at least four images illustrating the conditions before and after the project was carried out. These images will serve as visual evidence of the project’s impact and transformation.

For more details visit: www.treecouncil.ie/supervalu-tree-project-award

Closing date 5th June 2024

 See Entry Form here

No. 2

Gum Litter Taskforce Award

Prize Fund €5,000

Sponsored by the Gum Litter Taskforce (GLT)

The Gum Litter Taskforce (GLT) aims to increase awareness of the chewing gum litter issue by influencing a positive behavioural change around gum litter disposal and stronger enforcement of the €150 fine. The GLT would like to reward communities that are implementing environmental awareness initiatives to eliminate chewing gum litter in their area.

For more info, please visit https://www.gumlittertaskforce.ie/

Closing date 5th June 2024

See Entry Form here

No. 3

The Climate Action Award

Prize Fund: €6,000

Sponsored by Department of Environment, Climate and Communications

The overall aim of the Climate Action Award, sponsored by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, is to recognise the input local communities can make in addressing climate change.  The purpose of this award is to raise awareness of climate action and promote climate literacy, enable local communities to deliver change at a local level, and promote behaviour change in the wider community.

Further information is available by emailing Climateawards@decc.gov.ie

Closing date 5th June 2024

See Entry Form here

No. 4

Young Persons in TidyTowns Award

Prize Fund €5,000

Sponsored by Department of Rural and Community Development

The Young Persons Award is aimed at the 16 to 24 age group who are actively involved in projects and initiatives of their local TidyTowns group throughout the year.

Entries under the Young Persons Award should demonstrate how TidyTowns groups actively involve young people in the 16 to 24 age group in contributing on an ongoing basis to their local TidyTowns activities, including through their membership of, or direct engagement with, the Groups. It is not open to schools to apply.

For more details, see www.tidytowns.ie

Closing date 5th June 2024

See Entry Form here

No. 5

Town Centre First Award

Prize Fund €5,000

Sponsored by Department of Rural and Community Development

The Town Centre First (TCF) policy, launched in February 2021, is a cross-government policy that aims to create town centres that function as viable, vibrant and attractive locations for people to live, work and visit, while also functioning as the service, social, cultural and recreational hub for the local community. TCF recognises that every town is unique in its challenges, needs and opportunities and lays the foundation for each town to develop, at a local level, their own plan-led path forward. More information can be found on www.towncentrefirst.ie

The TCF Award, sponsored by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the National Town Centre First Office, credits exemplary efforts by towns in driving forward town centre regeneration and revitalisation in line with the policy and recognises the vital role TidyTown groups have in the sustainable development of their communities and the enhancement of our town centres.

For more details, see www.tidytowns.ie or www.towncentrefirst.ie

Closing date 5th June 2024

See Entry Form here

No. 6

THE RIAI TOWN CHALLENGE AWARD

PRIZE FUND €5,000

This award is open to all categories.

Sponsored by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland

Towns and villages are great places to live, work and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) is delighted to support TidyTowns Committees who are involved in the regeneration or creation of such places with the services of a Registered Architect. The Architect will work with a local TidyTowns Committee to prepare a high-level shared urban design ‘vision’ to help solve a problem in your town.

The award consists of an architectural commission to the value of €5,000. In order to apply, the local TidyTowns committee will complete the entry form, including a short paragraph which identifies the positive characteristics of the town, as well as its problems. This should be supported with photographs.

For more details please visit www.riai.ie

Closing date 5th June 2024

See Entry Form here

No. 7

SUPERVALU AND ASIAM INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES AWARD

PRIZE FUND €2,000

Sponsored by SuperValu and AsIAm

This award aims to recognise the outstanding work done by committees in embracing and including the autism community. SuperValu and AsIAm are working in partnership to promote the creation of more inclusive communities and this award is to acknowledge the hard work done by the committees who are making changes to promote and facilitate inclusivity of the autism community.

A prize of €2,000 will be awarded to the TidyTowns committee who best demonstrates how they promoted the inclusion of the autism community through autism friendly projects and initiatives.

Resources and information regarding autism friendly practices are available on supervalu.ie, AsIAm.ie and ILoveClonakilty.ie.

Closing Date:  5th June 2024

See Entry Form here

No. 8

Leave No Trace Award

Prize – €1,000 along with a Leave No Trace trainer for one day to deliver either an Awareness course or workshop,  access to online Leave No Trace Resources and promotion across social media.

Sponsored by Leave No Trace Ireland

Now in its fifth year, the Leave No Trace TidyTowns Special Award recognises communities for their significant efforts to protect and enhance the natural environment and the promotion of responsibility in the outdoors. Through recognising these communities, Leave No Trace Ireland seeks to inspire other communities to take extraordinary actions to protect and promote responsible outdoor recreation. Apply today and tell us what your group has achieved.

For more information please see www.leavenotraceireland.org

Closing date 5th June 2024

See Entry Form here

No. 9

The Waters and Communities Award

Prize Fund €7,000

Sponsored by Inland Fisheries Ireland, Waterways Ireland and the Local Authority Waters Programme

The Waters and Communities Special Award is open to any community group who has shown an appreciation for their water environment and water heritage by showing examples of initiatives undertaken during 2023, by showing examples of initiatives undertaken last year (examples include: support to biodiversity and water heritage; citizen science; promotion of angling; awareness raising events and initiatives; promotion of Nature Based Solutions; clean ups of local waterbodies; provision or upgrading of amenities, etc.)

This special Award is sponsored by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) www.fisheriesireland.ie  (responsible for managing the inland fisheries and sea angling sectors); Waterways Ireland www.waterwaysireland.org (responsible for the management of inland navigable waterways) and the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) www.lawaters.ie (working with communities to get involved in caring for local waterbodies).

For more details see www.watersandcommunities.ie

Closing date 5th June 2024

Waters and Communities Award – TidyTowns Competition 2024 | Online Consultation Portal of the Waters and Communities Office

No. 10

Heritage Award

Prize Fund €3,000

Sponsored by the Heritage Council

The Heritage Award, sponsored by the Heritage Council, aims to promote awareness of the importance of our local heritage and how it can contribute to a sense of place and belonging.  Heritage includes buildings, monuments and collections and also our landscapes, native wildlife and woodlands, seascapes, geology, heritage gardens and parks, inland waterways, folklore and crafts.

For more details, please email mail@heritagecouncil.ie

Closing Date:  5th June 2024

See Entry Form here

No. 11

All-Ireland Pollinator Plan – Local Authority Pollinator Award

Prize Fund €10,000

Sponsored by Heritage Offices & Biodiversity Offices of Local Authorities across Ireland, in partnership with the National Biodiversity Data Centre

The Local Authority Pollinator Award aims to encourage TidyTowns groups to implement pollinator-friendly actions in their towns and villages as part of the TidyTowns competition. Wild Irish bees, crucial to the pollination of our plants, trees and vegetables, are in decline – this is because we’ve drastically reduced the areas where they can nest and the amount of food our countryside provides for them. The aim of the award is to reverse this trend by encouraging TidyTowns groups to take simple pollinator-friendly measures in their local area. The Local Authority Pollinator Award supports the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan and is sponsored by the Heritage Offices & Biodiversity Offices of Local Authorities across Ireland.

For more details see www.pollinators.ie

Closing Date:  5th June 2024

See Entry Form here

No. 12

EPA CIRCULAR ECONOMY AWARD

PRIZE FUND €2,000

Sponsored by The Environmental Protection Agency

The EPA Circular Economy Award is to recognise communities that have undertaken activities that support a circular economy. In a circular economy waste is prevented and products are reused or repaired for reuse. By preventing waste and supporting the circular economy we can make the most of our resources while protecting the environment. Any initiatives to reduce the use or consumption of resources (materials, products, water, energy), sharing resources/products, reuse, repair or remanufacture are included; whether by the community, householders, businesses, schools, with your local authority, or other organisations. Work done under the main competition category ‘Sustainability – doing more with less’ can be relevant to this special award.

For more details please email cep@epa.ie

Closing Date:  5th June 2024

See Entry Form here

No. 13

Tiny TidyTowns Schools Award

Prize Fund €5,000

Sponsored by SuperValu

SuperValu are introducing a new primary school award called Tiny TidyTowns.

We all want our kids to understand and experience the wonder of growing their own food and the importance of protecting local biodiversity, so that they can grow up in a healthier world.

So, this year SuperValu are calling on all Primary schools to show all the great work they are doing to improve their school and classroom environments.

A finalist group from each of the four regions will be chosen, with each finalist group receiving €1,000. The overall winner will then receive an additional €1,000.

For more details see www.supervalu.ie

Closing Date:  5th June 2024

See Entry Form here

No. 14

The Bat Conservation Ireland Award

Prize Fund €1,500

Sponsored by Bat Conservation Ireland

Bat Conservations Ireland are sponsoring two awards, the first award is to sponsor a playground sculpture or artwork that highlights the importance of bats in the Irish ecosystems as nocturnal insectivores and also how bats have been helpful in scientific research on various topics such as robotics, ageing, medicine, etc.  For this competition we would like to see how bats can inspire the creation of beautiful art.  The theme for the illustration is Batty Benefits!  The award consists of an artistic commission of €1,500 towards the project.

For more details see www.batconservationireland.org or www.tidytowns.ie

Closing date 5th June 2024

See Entry Form here

 

No. 15

The Bat Conservation Ireland Award

Prize Fund €1,500

Sponsored by Bat Conservation Ireland

The second award is to sponsor a public art mural or street artwork that highlights the importance of bats in the Irish ecosystems as nocturnal insectivores and also how bats have been helpful in scientific research on various topics such as robotics, ageing, medicine, etc.  For this competition we would like to see how bats can inspire the creation of beautiful art.  The theme for the illustration is Batty Benefits!  The award consists of an artistic commission of €1,500 towards the project.

 For more details see www.batconservationireland.org or www.tidytowns.ie

Closing date 5th June 2024

See Entry Form here