Hunt for ‘heroes’ (From Stourbridge News)

Hunt for ‘heroes’

5:47pm Monday 8th January 2007 in Local

People who dedicate themselves to helping out in the community can be recognised in this year's Dudley's civic awards.

These annual awards are organised by Dudley Council - who feel there are many people who dedicate their time to helping others or who are great achievers themselves.

This year the awards are being supported by the News Group.

A spokeswoman for the council said: "The aim is to highlight the people who have made an outstanding contribution to the community or have set an inspiring example to others through their efforts and determination.

"The civic awards move away from congratulating people who are good at doing the job they are paid for to celebrating those who volunteer their own time to help the wider community.

"It's about bringing unsung heroes to the borough's attention and for those they help to thank them publicly for their dedication. It's about generating civic pride."

There are four categories The Duncan Edwards Award for sport, The Cedric Hardwicke Award for arts, The Frank Foley Award for community spirit and the Thomas Attwood Award for education.

The Duncan Edwards Award for sport is named after Dudley's most famous footballer who died in the 1958 Munich air disaster at the age of 21. It is aimed at any sporting achievements made either through representing a group or the borough, overcome a illness or disability or someone who may work behind the scenes washing the sports kits or serving refreshments.

The Cedric Hardwicke Award for arts is dedicated after the Lye legend and star of stage and screen and is for people who have raised the profile of the arts by performing in shows or working hard on the sidelines.

The Frank Foley Award for community spirit is named after the Stourbridge spy who risked his life to save 10,000 Jews. Anyone can be nominated for their outstanding contribution to the community, whether they regularly pop in on a neighbour or organise and support a community group.

Thomas Attwood Award for education, inspired by a Halesowen leader who helped make parliamentary reforms, is aimed at people who gone the extra mile to improve the standard of education, maybe helping out at an after school club or offering support for students.

There will be a winner and a runner up in each category and they will receive a certificate and a glass trophy presented by the mayor at an evening ceremony.

Nominations for these civic awards will run for four weeks and should be submitted no later than February 10.

Anyone who has previously been nominated can be nominated again.

To recommend someone for an award fill in the application form and send it to Dudley Council or check out the website www.dudley.gov.uk Send nominations to: Annual honours list nominations, Marketing and communications, Dudley Council, FREEPOST MID22308, Dudley DY1 1BR.