A BASINGSTOKE mum, who launched a website aimed at helping families get outdoors last year, is now encouraging people to nominate businesses for her organisation's inaugural awards.

Little Ankle Biters is kicking off 2021 with the launch of its annual awards, created to shine a light on the talented and hardworking people behind Hampshire’s family-friendly community.

This is the first Little Ankle Biters’ Awards for Hampshire, having been successful in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire in previous years. The

Hampshire awards will attract local family-friendly business nominations and votes from parents across the county including Basingstoke, Winchester, Portsmouth, Southampton, Lymington and all the surrounding towns and villages.

New for 2021 is the Little Ankle Biters’ Best Community Spirit Award to recognise a family-friendly business that has adapted and evolved to continue its outstanding service during lockdown.

Other new categories include Best Pregnancy Service, Best For Grown Ups and Best Charity or Not for Profit Organisation.

Little Ankle Biters is a free website providing families with reviews of family-friendly businesses, with all content written by local mums.

Editor of Little Ankle Biters Hampshire, Katherine Antrobus from Basingstoke, said: “The COVID restrictions placed on our daily lives have provided us all with a far greater appreciation of those who contribute to our local community. Last year was an enormous challenge for everyone – for parents and carers trying to keep a protective layer of positivity around our family unit, and for family friendly businesses that needed to adapt and change like a chameleon to ensure survival.

“The Little Ankle Biters’ Awards are nominated and voted for by local people, providing us all with a chance to put a smile on the faces of those who have worked amazingly hard to keep our families safe and happy.”

The categories for the Little Ankle Biters’ Awards 2021 are:

• Best Charity or not for profit organisation (new)

• Best Local Independent Business (new)

• Best Pregnancy Service (new)

• Best New Business (family-friendly business launched in the last 24 months - new)

• Best New Product/Service (Existing family friendly business with new product or service in last 24 months - new)

• Best for the Grown Ups (spas/gyms/restaurants/salon - new)

• Best Community Spirit (adapted to lockdown – new)

• Best Family Friendly place to eat (pub, café or restaurant)

• Best Theatre

• Best Museum

• Best Soft Play

• Best Children’s Party Entertainer

• Best Children’s Party Venue

• Best Party Supplier

• Best Children’s Sports Club

• Best Children’s Activity Class

• Best Family Attraction

To nominate a family friendly business in Hampshire that deserves a Little Ankle Biters’ Award, go to www.hants.ankle-biters.co.uk. Nominations are now open and close January 29 2021.

A shortlist will be revealed when voting opens from the week of February 2, followed by a virtual or in-person event to announce the winners on the week beginning March 18.

To find out more, visit: hants.ankle-biters.co.uk