Residents called to nominate Manchester heroes

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

Members of Shawe Thing are urging Manchester residents to nominate members of the community for the 2011 Be Proud Awards, aimed at recognising Mancunians who deserve an official thank-you.

Members of 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.

Manchester people are being asked to come forward after the City Council, which hosts the awards, received an unprecedented number of nominations last year.

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
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.

Anyone who wants to make a nomination should call 0161 953 2733 for an application form or visit http://www.beproudlovemanchester.com/ . Any businesses that are interested in sponsoring the awards should also contact this number.

Nominations can also be sent to: Customer and Community, Engagement Team, FREEPOST - MR1514, Manchester Town Hall, Manchester, M60 2BR.

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.

"I would like to encourage people to nominate anyone they know who's doing something to make the community around them a better place."

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."