A legendary soap star has been announced as the host of the first-ever Oxford Climate Awards - with less than one month to go until the big night.
Shaun Williamson, best known for playing Barry in EastEnders, will host the prestigious black-tie event at Oxford Town Hall on October 17 which will celebrate the incredible individuals and teams who are making it their mission to tackle climate change.
The announcement comes as the finalists in each category are revealed in a 16-page supplement in today's (September 19) Oxford Mail - also available to subscribers as a Digital Edition.
Across multiple categories the awards want to discover those incredible people who go above and beyond and aim to honour exemplary efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect natural ecosystems and promote sustainable practises.
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"We'll be celebrating all the great things that have happened in Oxford and the surrounding area regarding sustainability, biodiversity, climate change and green things in general.
"I can't wait to come back to your beautiful city to host this.."
Andrew Colley, editor of the Oxford Mail, said: "The importance of the Oxford Climate Action Awards lies in their potential to inspire and mobilise the community.
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"Climate change is no longer a distant threat, but a pressing reality affecting lives and livelihoods.
"These awards serve as a powerful reminder that each one of us can make a positive impact on our environment.
"By acknowledging and celebrating the dedicated environmental stewards within the Oxfordshire community, the awards not only foster a sense of collective responsibility but also provide a platform for sharing innovative solutions and best practises."
The 12 award categories for the Oxford Climate Awards are: sustainable media business of the year, sustainable small business of the year, innovation on climate action, sustainable primary school of the year, sustainable secondary school of the year, sustainable further education school/college of the year, biodiversity and ecology, green building and design, climate community group, green transport, youth climate action champion and climate action champion.
The event is being sponsored by Oxfordshire County Council alongside local businesses such as Unipart and BMW Group.
Tickets are currently available to purchase for family, friends and colleagues of our award finalists and sponsors.
If you would like to attend on the evening, please register an interest with event manager Emma Samways on emma.samways@newsquest.co.uk.
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