HEART OF YOGA AWARDS

The BWY Heart of Yoga Awards honour the invaluable work volunteers contribute to our organisation’s goal: to promote a greater understanding of yoga and its safe practise to all.

‘Volunteers are our lifeblood and their dedication is invaluable. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate our heroes.’

Di O’Reilly, BWY Chair

Every year, BWY members give their time freely to offer an outstanding choice of events, trainings, newsletters and community action, supporting BWY goals and projects. Launched in 2023, these annual awards acknowledge that contribution. We celebrate our Heart of Yoga Award winners after our AGM in May.

Members can nominate their local champions for recognition at the next awards, see below for full details.

Heart of Yoga Award Categories

The Anthony Grover Award for Long Service

Special recognition for long service; celebrating our senior members, founders and longest-serving supporters of BWY’s mission.

Who is eligible?
BWY volunteers who have been BWY volunteers for 10+ years.

Criteria
This award celebrates exceptional dedication and commitment for long service exceeding 10 years.

Rising Star Award

This award celebrates a volunteer who has made a noticeable impact over the past 24 months. It recognises those whose enthusiasm, ideas and commitment has made a positive difference within our community.

Who is eligible?

A member who has become a volunteer within the last three years.

Criteria

This award recognises a volunteer who has brought fresh energy, initiative, or creativity to their role, and helped to promote or strengthen BWY’s aims through their actions or projects.

Community Champion Award

An award for bringing yoga into the lives of communities under-represented in mainstream yoga, whether for cultural, economic or geographic reasons.

Who is eligible?
Individual BWY volunteers or groups of volunteers coming together, within the past 24 months, for a project or campaign that services new communities.

Criteria
This award celebrates the member or group of members who have demonstrably brought yoga into the lives of communities in a way that is sustainable and has become established beyond a short-term project.

The Irene Yates Volunteer of the Year Award

An award for an outstanding volunteer who has shown dedication and commitment to serve our members and strengthen our community.

Who is eligible?
Individual BWY volunteers who are currently active in volunteering role for BWY.

Criteria
This award celebrates volunteers who help build and nurture our community; whether by organising events and workshops, creating opportunities for members to come together, or offering quiet, reliable support behind the scenes that helps everything run smoothly.

Meet the members honoured at the Heart of Yoga Awards 2026

The Anthony Grover Award for Long Service

Winner: Jacqueline Stephenson

Rising Star Award

Winner: Kate Holly

Community Champion Award

Winner: Jill Dobbie

Ambassador of the Year Award

Winner: Rachel Claridge

Event Volunteer of the Year Award

Winner: Jo Webb

Irene Yates Education Champion

Winner: Hazel Faithful

Notes on Nominating

After reading through the award categories, choose which award or honour best represents the accomplishments of your nominee. If you’re unclear which category to choose, talk to your volunteering friends or Regional Officer about it or seek advice by sending an email to communications@bwy.org.uk.

Fill out an online nomination form, making sure to include: your nominee’s name and contact information, an explanation of why you chose that particular volunteer. When writing your nomination, be concise and compelling while demonstrating how your volunteer satisfies the important requirements. Wherever practical, provide examples, dates, facts, and statistics to highlight your nominee’s accomplishments and contributions to BWY. Additional pertinent information that is not covered by the criteria is very welcome; think about strengthening your nomination as much as you can. There is no such thing as too much enthusiasm! Consider what distinguishes your nominee. Why should they receive the prize? How have they volunteered in a more selfless way?

Nominations will be judged on how well they address the criteria in the award category. Please check you have chosen the most appropriate category and addressed the relevant criteria. This will give your nominee the greatest chance of success.

Do not assume the judges have any prior knowledge of your nominee. Write as if the reader knows nothing about your nominee. Be as comprehensive with your nomination as possible – a couple of lines is unlikely to be enough for judges to fairly assess your submission.

Who’s Eligible?

You can nominate the same volunteer for more than one award, but you should tailor each nominations to meet the individual award’s criteria. You can nominate as many volunteers as you wish across as many categories as you wish. All BWY volunteers are eligible. BWY staff, including former and current volunteers, can nominate but can’t be nominated.

Inclusivity

We respect diversity here at the BWY, and we’re dedicated to fostering an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and realise their full potential. We actively invite suggestions from individuals of all ages and cultural backgrounds.

Recognition for All

Even if your volunteer does not win on this occasion, all nominees receive a letter and certificate from our Chair. They can also be considered for future awards and recognition opportunities, if nominated again in future year’s awards.