Over 100 residents nominate Local Heroes for Mayor’s Award
Mayor's Local Hero Awards
Residents, community groups and businesses across the district have been busy sending Winchester City Council their nominations for their local heroes.
The Mayor of Winchester’s Local Hero Award was launched in September to recognise those who have put others before themselves and selflessly supported those in need with acts of kindness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Mayor’s Office received 113 heart-warming citations showcasing the sacrifices people across the district have made and time they have given to help others since the outbreak and resulting lockdown.
The Local Hero Award offered residents the chance to celebrate unsung heroes from across the district. In addition to the 113 individuals and groups who were nominated, 48 Parish Councils and 19 local community groups have also been recognised by Winchester City Council for their efforts to help friends and neighbours.
The Mayor of Winchester, Cllr Patrick Cunningham, said:
“We were delighted to receive this fantastic response to the call for nominations for local heroes. Over 100 citations detailing extraordinary acts of selflessness during a time which has been most challenging for everyone just poured in. Reading how local residents have been picking up shopping, prescriptions or simply sitting down to have a friendly chat with a vulnerable member of the community has been truly heart-warming and reinforces the caring, neighbourly spirit that we are lucky to have right across our district.
“The range of people who are recognised is so broad – village shopkeepers, caring neighbours, a community magazine editor, food bank coordinators, NHS workers, Parish Councils and major institutions like Winchester College too.
This whole exercise has reinforced my faith in the truly special people of the Winchester district and underscores my hope for a strong recovery as we rebuild – our community resilience will help us through.”
The certificates are landing on doormats this week. Due to social distancing restrictions a ceremony is not possible, so the Mayor has recorded a special video which can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/NW_LIITjaFg
A final roll call of all recipients of the award is also published on the city council website here.