Council-wide awards and accreditations

Find out about the different awards that Colchester City Council has received.

Colchester Cemetery wins national award

Colchester Cemetery has scooped a prize at the National Cemetery of the Year Awards. The Memorial Awareness Board (MAB) has been promoting and organising the Cemetery of the Year Awards for nearly 20 years. Colchester Cemetery won the 2024/25 (Best New Entry) prize in the Large Burial Grounds above 10,000 Graves Cemetery category of the National Competition, and received the award at the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management Learning Convention and Exhibition on 24 September 2024.

Philip Potts, of the Memorial Awareness Board, said: “The awards are an excellent opportunity to reward hard-working staff and demonstrate the central role Cemeteries can play in the community. They provide places of peaceful contemplation and beauty as well as their ecological importance. The team at Colchester Cemetery performed exceptionally throughout the extensive judging period which is focused on Industry Standards, Environmental Issues and Good Practice.” September 2024

Colchester City Council and Colchester Borough Homes shortlisted for Essex Housing Awards

Colchester City Council (CCC) and Colchester Borough Homes (CBH) are delighted to announce their selection as finalists in three categories at the Essex Housing Awards
2024. The three awards they have been shortlisted for are "Meeting Housing Need" and "Small Housing Schemes," recognising their work in providing exceptional housing solutions for Colchester residents. Additionally, CBH officer Joe Orves has been nominated for the Mo Slade Rising Star Award.

The Essex Housing Awards, held in association with Birketts LLP, celebrate excellence in the housing sector. This year’s awards saw a significant increase in entries, reflecting the growing strength of the Essex housing industry. September 2024

Colchester awarded multiple Green Flags – once again!

This year’s Green Flag Awards have been announced, and Castle Park, High Woods Country Park, and Colchester Cemetery and Crematorium have once again scooped the national award. As well as receiving its 22nd Green Flag award, Castle Park again received the Green

Heritage award, supported by Historic England, which recognises its work to promote its historic surroundings.

The three sites are among 2,208 UK parks and green spaces and 170 in the East of England to have received a prestigious Green Flag Award from Keep Britain Tidy – the mark of a quality park or green space.

The awards, now in their third decade, shine a light on the UK’s very best parks and green spaces, recognising that they are beautifully maintained, have excellent visitor facilities, and have achieved the highest possible environmental standards. To be able to fly the prestigious Green Flag, parks and open spaces are checked regularly throughout the year to ensure they're clean and well maintained, offer a welcoming place to visit, and encourage community involvement. July 2024

Colchester awarded Compassionate City status

Colchester now has national recognition as the first Compassionate City in the East of England, which community champions believe will inspire more people to be kind and compassionate to others in need of support during life’s most difficult moments.

Local groups, workplaces, organisations, businesses, clubs, and community hubs are all part of a Compassionate Colchester network that has been working collaboratively towards Compassionate City status. An assessment from the national charity Compassionate Communities UK confirmed the kindness and compassion being shown to people confronted with serious or life-limiting illness, ageing, caregiving, loss, and isolation. June 2024

Colchester Castle triumphs with national and local awards for excellence

Colchester Castle has been honoured with the Bronze Award in the ‘Accessible and Inclusive Tourism’ category at the prestigious VisitEngland Awards for Excellence. The award ceremony, held at the Rum Warehouse in the Titanic Hotel Liverpool, recognised the Castle’s outstanding commitment to providing an inclusive and accessible experience for all visitors.

From prioritising accessibility to providing information in various formats, Colchester Castle Museum has made significant strides in ensuring accessibility for visitors with diverse needs. In-house Sensory Champions and Access Champions ensure inclusion is considered at every stage, from exhibition design to school visits. The museum offers Sunflower lanyards, concessions for disabled visitors, and welcomes requests for free familiarisation visits.

In addition to this prestigious national accolade, Colchester Castle also triumphed locally, winning the Gold Award in the ‘Creative, Cultural, and Community Business of the Year’ category at the Colchester Business Awards. The ceremony took place at Firstsite Gallery, celebrating the Castle Museum’s exceptional contributions to the local community and cultural landscape. June 2024