Vote for the Charity of the Year Community Award

Following the meeting of the judging panel for this year’s Community Awards, we are delighted to announce the shortlist for the Charity of the Year category. We are now inviting the public to cast their vote and help choose this year’s winner. Use this page to read about the nominees, and to cast your vote.

Your vote will celebrate the organisations making an exceptional difference across our community, so please take a moment to show your support and help recognise their outstanding work. 

Voting closes at midnight on Sunday 15 March 2026, and the winning charity will be invited to join the other category winners at a special reception hosted by the Chair of the Council at The Guildhall in Bath.

Bath Area Play Project (BAPP)

Bath Area Play Project (BAPP) is an exceptional local charity that has transformed the lives of children and young people with disabilities and additional needs (SEND) across Bath and North East Somerset for more than 30 years. Through inclusive play sessions, after school clubs, holiday schemes, youth groups and one-to-one support, BAPP provides safe, joyful spaces where children and young people aged 5 to 21 can build confidence, friendships and independence. 

Families describe the charity as a lifeline, offering vital respite and emotional support during times of exhaustion and isolation. Powered by skilled, compassionate staff and volunteers, BAPP not only enriches the lives of the children it supports but also strengthens families and champions inclusion across the community. Its unwavering commitment, creativity and resilience, despite rising demand and financial pressures, make BAPP an outstanding and deeply deserving finalist for Charity of the Year.

Bath Mind

Bath Mind is an independent local mental health charity that has supported people across Bath and North East Somerset for more than 25 years, delivering inclusive and life‑changing services, to ensure no one faces mental health challenges alone. Over the past year, the charity has provided nearly 49,000 hours of support, including crisis care through its vital 365‑day Breathing Space service, counselling, wellbeing groups, housing services, and community outreach, regularly helping over 3,200 people. 

With strong partnerships across the NHS, local authorities, education settings and community organisations, Bath Mind plays a trusted and essential role in the local mental health system. Its trauma‑informed, person‑centred approach empowers individuals to feel heard, safe and supported. Driven by compassion, lived experience and the dedication of staff and volunteers, Bath Mind continues to reduce isolation, build resilience and create a kinder, mentally healthier community, making it an outstanding finalist for Charity of the Year.

The Ben Saunders Foundation

The Ben Saunders Foundation is an inspiring local charity created in memory of Ben Saunders, who tragically died of cancer at just 18. It provides free, restorative holidays for teenagers, young adults and families affected by cancer. 

Run with extraordinary dedication by Ben’s parents, the foundation has supported more than 400 families, offering precious time away from treatment, financial hardship and overwhelming stress in its beautiful Cotswolds holiday lodges. Every stay gives families the chance to rest, reconnect and create cherished memories, often at the hardest moments of their lives. Driven by compassion, community spirit and Ben’s wish to help others facing similar challenges, the foundation continues to grow, fund vital support, and keep Ben’s legacy alive, making it a profoundly deserving finalist for Charity of the Year.

Voting is now closed.

The Bath and North East Somerset Community Awards recognise the fantastic contributions individuals and organisations make to our communities. Some awards are selected by a judging panel, while others are the result of a public vote.  

Find out more about the awards and nominations

View previous winners