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Here are the full terms and conditions which apply to Community Champions 2009:

The Community Champions awards comply with the BBC's Code of Conduct  and its guidelines on competitions, voting and awards (see link in the right-hand panel).

Nominations open on Wednesday 14 January and close at 5pm on Friday 10 April 2009.

Entries are invited for individuals who live, work or perform community work in BBC Radio Derby’s editorial area.

No age restrictions apply to nominators or nominees.

Entries are permitted from relatives of nominees.

Where the same person has been entered more than once, the nominations count as one.

There are fourteen categories, each nomination will be entered into the one which the judging panel feel most reflects the entry. Nominations will not be entered into multiple categories.

The awards ceremony for winners will take place on Sunday 17 May 2009 at Pride Park stadium.

Nominations will only be accepted on the official nomination forms available from the award partners, via the bbc.co.uk/derby website and participating partner websites.

Each entrant will be scored against a fixed set of criteria. The judging panel will comprise of representatives from BBC Radio Derby and the Derby Evening Telegraph.

The top three scoring nominations in each award category will form a short list which will be re-scored in the same category, but relative to each other short listed entry. This will produce one overall winner per category.

The Mayor’s award and the Chief Constable’s special award will be the only exception from the above selection process. The winners will be chosen by the current Mayor of Derby and the Chief Constable (individually), using the above scoring process, from a short list provided by the judging panel.

Each winner will be notified at least one week before the awards ceremony and will be asked to attend to receive their award at a ceremony on the date above.

The awards ceremony will be reported by BBC Radio Derby and the Derby Evening Telegraph. Each winner will be named as a ‘Community Champion.’

The Community Champions is a partnership between BBC Radio Derby and the Derby Evening Telegraph. It is also supported by a number of other local organisations.

Members of the judging panel will be expected to confirm in writing that they did not have a conflict of interest with any nomination.

If a conflict of interest occurs, the judge will be replaced on the panel for the scoring of that entry by another person of similar standing in their organisation.

Repeat nominations from last year will be allowed (with the exception of past winners).

Members of the partner organisations are permitted to make nominations, but they will not personally be involved in or influence the selection or short listing of winners.

Members of staff at BBC Radio Derby and the Derby Evening Telegraph cannot be nominated for awards.

We reserve the right to cancel, withdraw or change categories that have insufficient or inadequate nominees.

All Community Champions will also be invited to the Derby Mayor making ceremony which takes places shortly after the Community Champions awards ceremony

Each nominee may receive varying degrees of editorial coverage. The amount will be based on independent editorial considerations and will have no bearing on the judging of entries.

Each winner will receive a trophy, a certificate and a bottle of champagne (if over 18)

How can I nominate someone?

Fill in the online form below. Alternatively entry forms and details will be available from BBC Radio Derby’s reception (01332 361111) during office hours.

Nominations open on Wednesday 14th January and close on Friday 10th April at 5pm.