New ‘Environment Champion’ gong added to national St David’s Awards

The First Minister has announced that a new ‘Environmental Champion’ category has been added to the St. David’s Awards.

The national awards, now in their 9th year, are an annual government scheme which recognize exceptional achievements by Welsh citizens.

Mark Drakeford said that the new award will celebrate a person or group who has made an outstanding contribution to improving their environment, either locally, Wales-wide or internationally.

The winners are decided by the First Minister.

“The St David Awards are the perfect chance to nominate people, up and down the country, who you believe deserve recognition – whether they are a friend, colleague, neighbour or family member,” he said.

“We are still dealing with the pandemic and trying to build a fairer, greener, stronger Wales and that is way it is important to recognise those people who go that extra mile to help Wales move forward.”

Last year, the Welsh Government announced a new category to recognise critical workers.

The award categories are:

• Critical Worker (Key Worker)
• Environment Champion
• Bravery
• Community Spirit
• Culture
• Sport
• Business
• Innovation, Science and Technology
• Young Person
• First Minister’s Special Award

The awards attracted some controversy last year as two of the three shortlisted candidates for the community spirit award were standing as Labour candidates in May’s Senedd election.

One of them, Elizabeth Buffy Williams, went on to oust Leanne Wood in the Rhondda – the only seat to change hands which had a sitting Senedd Member.

Neither candidate went on to win the award, with the First Minister choosing Denbighshire Dial A Ride instead.