Do you know a local unsung hero?

Thursday 17 July 2008

If you do and you think they deserve to be recognised for their hard work then show your appreciation by nominating them in the Surrey Police Local Heroes Awards 2008.

The awards, sponsored by the University of Surrey, have been launched this year to say thank you to those people who make an outstanding contribution to their community and actively help to keep Surrey a safe and pleasant place to live.

It might be the person who runs a local football team, a neighbour who helps you with your weekly shopping, or the people that organise your annual village fete. There are also awards for courageous acts such as speaking up about crime and supporting police activity.

All genuine nominees will receive a certificate of nomination to keep and their details will be passed to a judging panel who will select the overall winners for each of the five award categories.

The winners will then be invited to attend a special ceremony at Sandown Park Racecourse in September to meet other nominees and receive their awards.

The award categories are:

• Young People in the Community Award, supported by the High Sheriff of Surrey. This award recognises the positive contribution to the community made by an individual or group under the age of 18.
• Good Neighbour Award – to recognise a person or persons whose actions make them a great neighbour to have living in your area.
• Community Volunteer Award, sponsored by Air Products – acknowledging a person who gives up their own time to help others.
• Community Group Award, sponsored by Surrey Community Foundation – for a group that has worked to improve the quality of life in a neighbourhood.
• The Michael Varah Award for Courage, sponsored by Surrey Crimestoppers – for courageous action by an individual or group in support of police activity.

A further award will also be presented on the night to the person or group the judging panel feel has gone beyond all expectations in what they have achieved.

Mark Rowley, Temporary Chief Constable of Surrey Police, said: "In every neighbourhood there are people who willingly give up their time to help others or who have done something truly courageous without making any fuss or asking for anything in return.

"Like the police and the local authorities they have a common goal – to make our communities safe and pleasant places to live. They make a real difference but often don’t know how appreciated they are.

"Officers working in our neighbourhoods see the good deeds that go on every day and these awards are just one way to thank those people for what they do."

Colin Howard, Dean of Students at the University of Surrey, said: "Both the University and the Students' Union actively encourage all students to become involved in the local community.

"Past activities have ranged from organising the highly successful Guildford Mile as part of Sports Relief welcoming 1,600 members of the public onto the campus to raise money for charity, to the Tutoring and Mentoring Scheme which saw 163 students from the University and local sixth forms completing voluntary placements in 55 local schools and colleges.

"These awards are a great opportunity to recognise individuals who put their time and energy into improving the lives of community members or volunteering their services to help local people in Surrey."

Nomination forms are now available from your local Safer Neighbourhood Team, via the Surrey Police Website or by calling Surrey Police on 0845 125 2222. Simply fill one out and return it to Surrey Police using the details below by the closing date of August 23 2008.

You can post your completed form back to: Surrey Police Local Heroes Awards 2008 Nominations, Neighbourhood Policing & Partnership Directorate, Surrey Police, Mount Browne, Guildford, Surrey, GU3 1HG or alternatively be E-amil: localheroes@surrey.pnn.police.uk

Media Enquiries

Peter La, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: +44 (0)1483 689191, or Email mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk