RBH sponsoring ‘good neighbour’ awards

The new Pride of Rochdale Borough Awards awards scheme to recognise unsung heroes and groups is being jointly sponsored by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH).

Anyone can be nominated for an array of different awards. These include Good Neighbour, Volunteer and Young Volunteer of the Year, Unsung Hero in Sport, Community Group of the Year, Disabled Sports Achiever, Sports Club of the Year and Organisation of the Year.

Communities First Co-ordinator, Ruth Sillence, said: “RBH will be judging the Good Neighbour category, The Council will collate all entries but the shortlisting of nominations for the Good Neighbour award will be carried out by RBH employees. Those shortlisted will then be judged alongside others from across the whole borough.

“Every year RBH run our own awards ceremony - it’s a great idea to collaborate with the Council for these new awards. Our tenants can be nominated for a whole host of awards. I’d like to encourage tenants in all areas of the borough to nominate people as we really do want to celebrate the good work being done to help make our communities and estates a better place to live.”

It is especially fitting that RBH chose this year to plan the awards as a joint venture as the United Nations declared 2012 the International Year of Co-operatives and subsequently Rochdale has been declared the ‘World Capital of Co-operatives.’

Other organisations involved in the awards are Link4Life, Council for Voluntary Services and the Kashmir Youth Project. Winners will be recognised at a prestigious ceremony to be held on the 27 September at Middleton Arena.

“There are lots of people in our communities who are doing fantastic work to better the lives of others. But we’d also like to recognise the important work being done by local organisations such as schools and community groups. Some really do go the extra mile and nominating them is a great way of saying thank you,” added Ruth.

The closing date for nominations is 31 July 2012. For further information and/or to nominate your local hero or organisation, go to www.rochdale.gov.uk/prideof