Manchester People - October 2011

Volunteers who helped a park's horticultural centre reopen after it was trashed by vandals have helped promote a contest to let the world know about unsung Manchester heroes.

Members of Shawe Thing are supporting the 2011 Be Proud Awards, aimed at recognising Mancunians who deserve an official thank you.

The Wythenshawe-based youth group were given the overall Pride Of Manchester award during last year's contest after judges were impressed by the contribution they made to their community - organising local events and hosting sessions to build bridges between young and old people.

After winning the award, they devoted hours of their free time to working alongside Wythenshawe Park staff following an incident in which vandals broke into the Horticultural Centre earlier this year, smashing windows and killing the centre's fish and birds. The group's members even spent some of their prize money helping repair the centre.

There are 10 award categories, including the introduction of this year's Blossoming Communities award, celebrating people or groups whose gardening achievements have improved the lives and surroundings of others.

The other categories are: Business in the community, Community force, Community project of the year, Creativity in the community, green futures, neighbour of the year, unsung hero, volunteer of the year and young achiever of the year.

All finalists will be invited to a glittering awards ceremony at Manchester Town Hall in December where the winners will be announced, and presented with a prize and trophy.

Joe Maguire, from Shawe Thing, said: "Winning the prize last year was a real boost, helped all of us realise the work we'd done had helped make a difference and encouraged us to go on to do more."

Councillor Jim Battle, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said: "There are individuals, groups and businesses all over the city who are working hard, day in day out, to make life better for people around them.

"This is a chance for residents to give these people the recognition they deserve. I'd also like to thank Manchester's business community for their generous sponsorship."

The awards ceremony is entirely funded by sponsorship by local business, all of which are involved because of their close work with the council in communities and neighbourhoods across the city.

If you would like to know more about the Be Proud awards or nominate someone you know who has made a real difference to their community, visit the Be Proud website.

Take a look at our photo gallery of the Wythenshawe Park clean-up...