Are you a GBPA Hero? Community Services

The Morning Advertiser (MA)​ is now looking to celebrate those operators as part of the Great British Pub Awards Pub Heroes 2020.

We’re calling on all pubs that reached out to help the people around them, to tell us their story and be in with a chance of winning £10,000 from Coca Cola.

Ed Bedington, editor of the MA​, which organises the awards, said: “Pub have long been at the heart of their communities, and even in the midst of the lockdown that didn’t change.

“We’ve been hearing from pubs who have been out to visit elderly and vulnerable people, to do their shopping for them, even picking up prescriptions and ensuring people are safe and well.

“It’s fantastic to hear and we’d love to hear more of your stories, so if you’ve been looking after your community, get in touch.”

The Great British Pub Awards Pub Heroes is an evolution of the traditional Great British Pub Awards, and aims to shine a real spotlight on some of the fantastic achievements of pubs during the corona crisis.

Bedington added: “Pubs have really been hit hard by the crisis, but rather than shut up shop and walk away, we’ve seen operators not only rise to the challenge, but go way beyond that, doing amazing things to support the communities they serve.

“We want to use these awards to help shout from the rooftops about how great pubs are, and what a vital part they are of the fabric of our society.”

You can enter the Community Services category, sponsored by Heineken UK, now at www.greatbritishpubawards.co.uk​​​ and the winner will not only receive £1,000 from Coca Cola to put towards a charity of their choice, but also the opportunity to bid for a £10,000 grant towards a business improvement upgrade or community project of your choice.

The full list of categories in the competition are: 

• Feeding the Community​​ – A pub that has kept their community fed
• Front-Line Support​​ – A pub that has supported the NHS and other front-line workers in a variety of ways
• Staff Welfare​​ – A pub that has gone above and beyond to look after their teams
• Community Mindfulness​​ – A pub that has supported the community’s mental health
• Community Services​​ – A pub that has looked after vulnerable customers
• Business Continuity​​ – A pub that has found innovative ways to continue to deliver its services during the lockdown
• Pub Shop​​ – A pub that has pivoted to provide essential supplies to its local community
• Charity Champion​​ – A pub that has raised money for charity despite the lockdown
• Keeping the Community Entertained​​ – A pub that has continued to provide vital entertainment to its community – virtual quizzes, concerts etc
• Sheltering the Community​​ – A pub that has provided a room for someone in need
• Punch Pub Hero of the Year​​
• Admiral Pub Hero of the Year​​
• Greene King Pub Hero of the Year​​
• Ei Publican Partnerships Pub Hero of the Year​

Entries are open until this Friday 24 July and the competition is sponsored by Booker, Coca-Cola European Partners, Heineken UK, Diageo, Sky, EI Publican Partnerships, Admiral, Star Pubs & Bars, Punch Pubs and Greene King.