Manchester People - January 2012

Jeremy Myers receiving his award from MEN Media Head of Communities Dave Lafferty

A defiant duo who organised an impromptu clean-up after last summer's riots have received a prestigious Be Proud award recognising community heroes.

Riot Clean Up Manchester, a pair of volunteers which motivated more than a thousand people to help clean up the city following the disturbances, took the overall prize at the Be Proud Awards last month.

The pair - Jeremy Myers and Jen Perry - used social media such as Facebook and Twitter to begin their campaign while the riots were still taking place, and the response from Manchester residents and businesses was overwhelming.

They were among the groups and individuals to be honoured at the award ceremony organised by Manchester City Council after receiving nominations from other residents, and took both the Community Force award and the Pride of Manchester award - given to the best of the best.

Liam England from Charlestown won the Young Achiever of the Year award for his work with the Whitemoss Youth Centre.

Liam, who has been a member of the centre since 2003, now volunteers there four nights a week, working with children of different ages and starting his own under-16s cycle club.

The Love Your Bike group won the Green Futures award for their pioneering work encouraging people across Manchester to live a healthier and more environmentally friendly lifestyle by leaving their cars at home.

The group, formed by Manchester Friends Of The Earth five years ago, has also campaigned tirelessly to make road conditions better for cyclists.

Jane and Les Chadfield won the Blossoming Communities award for their work transforming Scotland Hall Road in Newton Heath from a haven for anti social behaviour to a beautiful community garden that has won the coveted Green Flag Award on two consecutive years.

Sian Sweeney won the Unsung Hero award for her work at the Big Life Centre, helping vulnerable people who have been victims of crime and trauma to restore pride in themselves and access essential services.

The Whitemoss Youth and Community Centre, which has served thousands of children in the Charlestown area for 44 years, won the Community Project of the Year for its innovative ways of helping young people. Many people who went to the centre as youngsters are now parents who spend their spare time volunteering there.

The Wythenshawe-based Authentic Food Company won the Business in the Community award for its work making a difference to local people. This includes supporting local schools and raising funds for a charity.

Kay Kelly won the Neighbour Of The Year award for her work including delivering hot food, helping elderly and disabled people get out and about, and keeping driveways and pavements clear during the winter months. he also helps with dog walking, volunteers at the local Irish Centre, and is club secretary of the Abraham Moss Football Club, which helps hundreds of youngsters live a healthy lifestyle.

Romanie Hall-Finnigan won the Volunteer of the Year award for spending hours of her own time helping vulnerable people, chairing youth volunteering forums and working on environmental projects in east Manchester.

Philip Tommins of Charlestown won the Creativity in the Community Award for his murals that transformed the Whitemoss Youth Centre into a vibrant building.

He was so dedicated to the project that he worked outside in the snow to make sure it was completed on schedule, and his enthusiasm inspired youngsters who also took part in the scheme.

Councillor Jim Battle, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council said: "The work that the Riot Clean Up Manchester did following the August disturbances was inspirational, and proved that the spirit of volunteering was alive and well among Manchester residents and businesses.

"However, they were just one of the hundreds of groups and individuals across the city who have worked hard over the last year to make life better for people around them. The Be Proud awards is all about giving these people the recognition they truly deserve."