Now in their ninth year, the awards are held to celebrate the best in local public services at a UK-wide level, with judges looking for evidence of transformation in public services that have demonstrated true innovation and delivered the biggest improvement for the lives of residents and local businesses.

The CCB team were nominated in the creating community capacity category which recognises initiatives that do the most to engage with the local community and create greater resilience, better life chances and less dependency on public services.

Established in 2013, the CCB project provides a range of coordinated community support projects across the Borders which aim to support older people on a person-centred basis while encouraging communities to create their own initiatives.

The wide range of activities that have already been developed include walking football, walking netball, new age kurling, gentle exercise classes, soup clubs and gardening. Events have also been held to celebrate Silver Sunday and a directory of services created for the Gala Water area. The team has also supported the establishment of the Borders Seniors Networking Forum and a number of successful Men’s Sheds projects. They are currently in the process of extending their remit from older people to include all adults.

An external evaluation completed in July 2017 praised the positive impact that the project has had with the social return on investment for the work of the team being estimated at being £10 for every £1 invested. This represents significant value to both participants and in terms of savings to the health and social care system as a whole. In addition, a survey undertaken in May 2017 by the team itself found that 75% of participants report improved health and wellbeing as a result of taking part in one or more of the activities available and that 10% of them had gone on to volunteer in community projects themselves.

Councillor Tom Weatherston, executive member for adult social care at Scottish Borders Council, said: “The contribution that this team has made to the health and wellbeing of older people in a number of local communities has been hugely significant. Nearly every day across the Borders there is an activity taking place that has been co-ordinated by one of their support workers and the list continues to grow. To be shortlisted in the final three for this award is a significant achievement and I am delighted that their efforts are being recognised at a national level. I wish them all the very best with their nomination.”

The award ceremony will take place on March 6.