KIND-HEARTED local people can be nominated for a new set of awards for voluntary service in the community. The scheme has been set up by the Mayor of Bury, Coun Roy Walker, who is keen to honour local folk for outstanding civic service.

No more than 12 awards will be made in any one municipal year, and nominations will be considered in six categories:

Sport and recreation

Cultural

Work with children and young people

Work with the elderly, handicapped or socially deprived groups

Conserving or improving the environment

Support for registered charities

To qualify, individuals must live in the borough or have worked, entirely voluntarily and unpaid, to benefit their fellow citizens.

Nominations will be judged by a panel who will consider length of service, personal effort and sacrifice involved, and how widely and well their work has benefited the community.

The lucky winners will receive their awards from the mayor at an annual December ceremony.

Coun Walker, in his inaugural speech last May, made introducing civic awards one of his aims before he left office.

The award scheme was launched at the Elizabethan Suite in Bury Town Hall on Monday.

Closing date for nominations is October 31. Anyone who wishes to nominate a local resident should contact the chief executive's department at Bury Town Hall (ref Vol Awards) for a form.

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