THE CREAM OF MANCHESTER - Manchester Community Awards 2007

Manchester City Council has been searching for community heroes with its annual awards scheme for people who help put the spirit back into their area.

Finalists of this year's Community Awards 2007 gathered for a glittering 40s themed celebration in the Town Hall's prestigious Great Hall last Friday 16 November.

Nominations were received from right across the city, in a total of 11 categories, and the final three from each were invited to the awards ceremony. The awards themselves were presented by guests Gordon Burns and his BBC colleague Annabel Tiffin.

Councillor Eddy Newman, Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services said: "It is a real pleasure to recognise such excellence in the community. We were delighted with the number of people nominated and it was difficult to choose outright winners as in reality each and every person nominated is a winner in their own community."

Winners in each category received a cheque for £250, while the runners-up were presented with a finalist's medal.

There's also a top prize of £750 for The Winner's Winner - the category winner nominated by the judges as the overall Pride of Manchester.

The winners in the 11 categories are:

• Contribution to the Environment - Group, Newton Heath Eco Youth, Newton Heath
• Contribution to the Environment - Individual, Yvonne Pole, Moston
• Young Citizen of the Year, Kirsty Howard, Wythenshawe
• Sporting Achievement, Abraham Moss Warriors junior football club, Crumpsall
• Citizen of the Year, Ellen Foran, Blackley
• Good Neighbour, Steve Green, Openshawe
• Creativity in the Community, Edna Cobain, Wythenshawe
• Taking a Stand, Annie Woodcock, Newall Green, Wythenshawe
• Young Person's Contribution to the Community, Pamela Richards
• Contribution to the Community - Group, Transport for Sick Children, Reddish
• Contribution to the Community - Individual, Mary Armstrong, Cheetham Hill

A Manchester residents association lifetime achievement award was also given to Joan Fitzgerald and the top award the Pride of Manchester ie the Winner's Winner was given to Mary Armstrong from Cheetham Hill.

Media Contact:

Jacqueline Meenan, tel 0161 234 4027