Good Neighbours Awards 2015: Seeking out our unsung heroes

For the third year running Blackburn with Darwen Council has teamed up with the Lancashire Telegraph to search for residents who make a real difference to the lives of people in their communities.

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Building on the success of the previous two years, the Good Neighbours Awards 2015 - a council initiative supported by the Lancashire Telegraph - pay tribute to the unsung heroes whose efforts are rarely properly recognised.

We are looking for those who make their streets and neighbourhoods a better place.

And prizes on offer for the winners include match day tickets and a meal for two at Ewood Park, a night in the Lake District and a £150 voucher for Stanley House Hotel and Spa in Mellor.

2013 winners included 'Your Call' clean up stalwart Maurice Ffelan and volunteer Richard Grimshaw, who was honoured after never allowing learning disabilities to prevent him helping young people.

Last year's youngest award-winner was teenager Joe Lightbown of Bolton Road who had spent hundreds of hours helping neighbour Michael Crawford in his struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Others recognised at the heart-warming ceremony at King George's Hall included 78-year-old community handyman Peter Leyden and running enthusiast Rick Wilson.

Borough leader Kate Hollern said: “I was overwhelmed by the people I met last year.

"People like Rick Wilson, Joe Lightbown and Peter Leyden really made a difference to their neighbours.

“I am delighted we have joined up with the Lancashire Telegraph again and can run another search for community heroes.

"This year, I want to see even more people being nominated.

“The important thing about these awards is that they recognise people who give their time to the community and expect nothing in return.

"They are the people who keep the community together.”

Lancashire Telegraph editor Kevin Young said: “We are delighted to support the Good Neighbours Awards as they return for their third year, highlighting once again the positive work being done in our borough by the unsung heroes who make Blackburn and Darwen the real communities they are.

“Much of this is carried out by volunteers and ordinary residents who go about it quietly, dutifully and often without the recognition they so richly deserve.

“The community is at the heart of everything the Telegraph stands for and we’re looking forward to telling more of the stories of the people who bind our neighbourhoods together.

“I would encourage everyone knows one of these champions of traditional neighbourliness to nominate them for one of these awards.”

Last year’s event won the backing of Prime Minister David Cameron, opposition leader Ed Miliband, and Blackburn MP Jack Straw, and left the judges with a tough job of picking the eventual winners.

Council chief executive Harry Catherall said: “It was a pleasure to be one of the judges last year.

"Each nomination told a story of someone who really cares about making their neighbours’ lives better.

"It was especially pleasing to see that we received entries for people from all walks of life and from different parts of the borough.

“I look forward to seeing this year’s entries and hearing about residents who make their communities tick.”

Sponsors were delighted to lend their support again for another year.

Blackburn Rovers managing director Derek Shaw said: “Blackburn Rovers are very happy to support the awards.

"Any award which rewards and brings focus on members of the community helping others is something the club is proud to be associated with.”

Ian Richardson, Blackburn Business Centre Director for Capita said: “We are happy to be sponsoring this very successful event again this year.

"The competition allows residents to thank their neighbours for going the extra mile throughout the year.”

Blackburn with Darwen Clinical Commissioning Group chairman Joe Slater said: “We are delighted to be supporting these awards.

"Good neighbours are important for society. They make communities tick.

“I am clear that people who make their neighbourhoods better places are contributing to improving the health and wellbeing of the borough.

“A neighbour spending five minutes to knock on the door of an elderly or vulnerable resident to make sure they are okay can help keep that person out of hospital.”

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