Search begins for unsung heroes of the community

04 February 2008

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Local people are being invited to nominate neighbours that they feel are invaluable to the local community, as part of Woking Borough Council's Good Neighbour and Community Awards Scheme 2008.

The annual awards, which have been running for over ten years, recognise the kind-spirited people who have made positive contributions to their community and aim to "promote community spirit of the best kind".

There are three categories for nominations:

Good Neighbour Award

Qualities of a `good neighbour' include:

  • assisting in household chores, such as washing, ironing and shopping

  • visiting those alone or in hospital

  • generally assisting friends and neighbours in need.

Community Award

The Community Award is presented to an individual or couple, who have carried out outstanding voluntary work over a long period for a group or organisation which helps the community such as elderly or disabled people.

Youth Award

This category was first introduced in 2003 to recognise acts of goodwill in the community by young people up to the age of 21.

Those nominated must live in the Borough and have not been a winner of a Good Neighbour or Community Award in previous years. All nominations must have the consent of the nominee.

Depending on the number of nominations, each of the 17 electoral wards could have one `ward' winner for the Good Neighbour Award and the Community Award. These winners will then go forward for the judging of two overall Borough Award winners. There will be just one Borough winner for the Youth Award.

The Mayor of Woking will present all winners with a certificate and each of the three overall Borough winners with a shield, at a Council meeting to be held in July.

Cllr Brian Taylor, Woking Borough Council's Portfolio Holder for Civic Functions, said: "This is the time of the year when residents have one of the rare opportunities to show appreciation of the work someone they know selflessly does to help others in the community. So I urge those who know such a special person to spare a few minutes to nominate them for Woking Borough Council's Good Neighbour and Community Awards Scheme."

The deadline for nominations is Friday 25 April 2008. For further information, or a nomination form, please contact Julie Northcote, Woking Borough Council's Member Services Officer, on 01483 743053, or email julie.northcote@woking.gov.uk.

Nominations can be posted to Member Services, Woking Borough Council, Civic Offices, Gloucester Square, Woking, Surrey, GU21 6YL.