THE prestigious A Place to be Proud of Awards for 2004-05 were officially launched this week - and organisers were delighted when a clutch of new sponsors came forward to pledge their support.

Around 50 people, including organisers, past winners, sponsors, councillors and leading figures from local businesses and organisations, gathered at Basingstoke College of Technology's Robert Newman restaurant.

They met to launch the annual awards, which will be held for the second time, following their success earlier this year.

The awards - which celebrate individual and collective achievement in the town and borough - have once again been organised by Festival Place, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Gazette Newspapers and the Local Strategic Partnership.

Speaking at the launch, Jane Stewart, marketing manager at Festival Place, said: "The original awards were created to find and celebrate all of the things that Basingstoke and Deane should be proud of.

"It is also about sending a message out to the wider community in Hampshire that Basingstoke has changed for the better, and continues to do so."

Gordon Holdcroft, chief executive of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, which has teamed up with Gazette Newspapers to sponsor the Good Citizen Award for the second year running, said: "Ninety-three per cent of people who live within the borough think it is a fantastic place to be. I think this is something that we should all be very proud of."

Giving her support to the awards, Judith Armstrong, principal of Basingstoke College of Technology, said: "Basingstoke is a great place to live, work, bring up a family, retire and play. It is definitely on the map and every year we hope that the profile will get greater."

Gazette Newspapers editor Mark Jones told the guests: "Basingstoke is a place to be proud of. When we did this event for the first time last year, we didn't know what to expect. But it was absolutely excellent and I think in my two-and-a-half years as editor, it is certainly the most memorable event I have been involved in."

Mr Jones encouraged everyone to spread the word about the awards.

He said: "They are important for raising the profile of the town and borough - not just in this community but in the wider community. The more people spread the word, the more people will find out about the good things that are happening, and are being done, in Basingstoke."

Before Monday's event, Gazette Newspapers, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, GAME and Wella had all pledged to sponsor some of the award categories, while BCOT provided sponsorship by hosting the launch event - during which an impressive spread was provided by some of the college's catering students.

At the launch, North Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Sentinel Housing Group, Hampshire Constabulary, Basingstoke Andover North Hampshire Industrial Mission and Queen Mary's College all agreed to sponsor categories too.

This means that the Safe Community Award is the only category which now needs a sponsor.

Mary Edwards, chief executive of North Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which is sponsoring the Healthy Community category this year, said: "I think as the major employer in Basingstoke, it is important for us to be part of such an award programme."

Stephen Sheedy - principal of QMC, which is part-sponsoring the Learning category - said: "The borough has proved itself time and time again to be a place to be proud of. The importance which the borough attaches to learning is a clear sign of how forward-thinking and vibrant the work is, and Queen Mary's College is very proud to be a sponsor of this category."

Martin Nurse, chief executive of Sentinel Housing Group, which is sponsoring the People of our Time category, said: "As an integral part of the Basingstoke community, Sentinel Housing Group is delighted to be sponsoring this award.

"Sentinel is striving to make a positive difference to the lives of people living in its homes and the surrounding communities and it is an honour to support these awards, which recognise and reward organisations and individuals who make a real difference in Basingstoke."

The Gazette will be focusing on how people and organisations can enter the A Place to be Proud of Awards for 2004-05 in the near future.

The awards ceremony will take place next June in Festival Place.

Firms or organisations interested in becoming a category sponsor can obtain more information by contacting Jane Stewart on 01256 326022 or by e-mailing info@festival place.co.uk