Mayor of Winchester calls for nominations for local heroes during pandemic
People across the district who have made a real difference during the COVID-19 pandemic will be recognised as heroes next month by the Mayor of Winchester. Cllr Patrick Cunningham, together with the Leader of Winchester City Council, Cllr Lucille Thompson and Chief Executive, Laura Taylor, is inviting local people to nominate family, friends, neighbours and community groups for a new award – the Mayor of Winchester’s Local Hero Award.
Over the last six months life dramatically changed across the district and the restrictions placed on households saw people rallying together to support those needing practical help and reassurance. The Local Hero Award offers residents the chance to say thank you to all the unsung heroes across the Winchester district who have been putting others first in this extraordinary time.
Do you know someone who has:
- lead or volunteered with a community group to ensure that residents in your neighbourhood have been able to receive essential items?
- created a voluntary group to help local residents and businesses through lockdown?
- adapted a business to serve a local community?
- befriended residents who are shielding to provide comfort whilst often being alone?
- shopped and collected prescriptions for their neighbours?
If you do, the Mayor would like to hear from you. Residents need to send in nominations with up to 100 words about the person or group they are putting forward – there is an option to include a photograph with the form too. Applications close on Wednesday 30 September 2020 and winners will receive a Mayor of Winchester Local Hero Award certificate to displayed at home at work or in a community venue.
Mayor of Winchester, Cllr Patrick Cunningham, said:
“The past six months have been some of the most challenging globally for more than half a century. Throughout we have seen local people making sacrifices to help others in their community and during the very worst of times, we have seen the very best in human nature. These awards are just a small token of our appreciation to all those individuals and businesses and our chance to say thank you to our local heroes.
“We know there are so many people in the district who have shown us what true community spirit really is and I am proud to be able to celebrate this with a public gesture of recognition on behalf of Winchester City Council.”
Complete a nomination form by searching ‘local hero nomination form’ at winchester.gov.uk or click here.
For further information, please contact the Mayor’s Secretary Debbie Hadwen: Mayorssecretary@winchester.gov.uk
How to nominate
- Nominations are open to any individual, group or business within the Winchester district and there is no limit on the number of applications an individual or group can submit.
- Anyone can nominate an individual or an organisation. The Mayor particularly seeks the assistance of Parish and Town Councils, City Councillors, community groups and others in public life who are well placed to see these invaluable efforts at first hand, and the impact they make on people’s lives
- If possible, please include a picture of your hero so we can include the winners when we publicly celebrate these volunteers
- Your nomination needs only to be up to 100 words long
- Local media coverage is anticipated for the awards so we do advise that you ensure that your nominee is content to be nominated before submitting an entry.
- These awards do not replace the annual Mayor of Winchester’s Community Awards which traditionally take place in the Spring.