Put your local hero in the spotlight

Matthew Moss Youth Centre helps launch the Pride of Rochdale Borough Awards

A new awards scheme to recognise unsung heroes and groups who make the borough a better place for everyone has been launched.

The Pride of Rochdale Borough Awards include awards for Volunteer and Young Volunteer of the Year, Unsung Hero in Sport, Community Group of the Year, Disabled Sports Achiever, Good Neighbour, Sports Club of the Year and Organisation of the Year.

They are also looking to recognise schools or colleges that are at the heart of their communities; volunteers who are helping people to improve their literacy skills; people working to bring different communities together and people or groups who have improved their health and wellbeing or who have helped others to do so, transforming their lives for good.

Penny Sharp, Director of Customers and Communities at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “One of the principles of the Co-operative Movement focuses on caring for our communities and that’s why we’ve chosen to launch these awards in the International Year of Co-operatives.

“Without volunteers and organisations willing to go the extra mile, a lot of the great things that happen in the borough wouldn’t happen. We have brought together awards organised by many of our partners so volunteers from different walks of life and who work in different areas can celebrate all the brilliant things being done by volunteers right across the borough.”

Link4Life, Council for Voluntary Services, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing and the Kashmir Youth Project are all involved in the awards. The awards ceremony will take place on 27 September at Middleton Arena.

Craig McAteer, Managing Director of Link4Life and chairman of the Local Strategic Partnership Board, said: “The fantastic work volunteers do often goes unnoticed so these awards will give people the recognition they deserve.

“They’ll really celebrate the community spirit that exists in the borough and I’d encourage everyone to spend a few minutes nominating the person or organisation they believe has made a difference to their community, or their life.”

The closing date for nominations is 31 July 2012. To nominate your local hero or organisation go to:

www.rochdale.gov.uk/prideof