Leader Champions Community Awards 2008

Now's the time to reward YOUR Leader champions

DO you know an unsung hero who deserves recognition?

Now is your chance to show that special person how much you appreciate them by nominating them in the Leader Champions awards.

We have teamed up with the Norwich & Peterborough Building Society to find the area's top community heroes.

The winners and runners up from each category will be invited to an awards ceremony at Louth Town Hall in June.

Winners will receive a crystal trophy, a bottle of bubbly and a certificate and all the runners up will receive a certificate.

Readers can nominate people by picking up a form at the N&P branch at 33 Mercer Row, Louth, printing off a form on this page or filling in the coupons in the Louth Leader newspaper.

Nominations should be accompanied by no more than 100 words explaining why you think the nominee deserves an award.

They must live or work within the circulation area covered by the Louth Leader or Mablethorpe and Sutton on Sea Leader.

After the nominations have closed voting forms will be printed and readers can decide on the winners.

When the winners have been decided a panel of judges will choose one as the Leader Achiever 2008.

* Drop your nomination forms off at the N&P's Louth branch at 33 Mercer Row, at the Leader office at 12 Cornmarket, or post them to: Leader Champions Awards, Louth Leader, 12 Cornmarket, Louth, LN11 9PY.

Nominations MUST be in by 12noon on Friday April 25.

DOWNLOAD THE NOMINATION FORM

N&P – proud to support YOUR community

NORWICH and Peterborough Building Society’s (N&P) Louth branch at 33 Mercer Row, is proud to be the new sponsor of the Leader Community Awards.

The Society currently operates through 56 branches in East Anglia and Lincolnshire, spread from Scunthorpe to Chelmsford and west to Bedford, plus a branch in Gibraltar, a contact centre in Peterborough and through a fully transactional website.

N&P employs around 1,000 staff, 470 of whom are based at the Society’s principal office in Peterborough.

The Society has in excess of 400,000 customers, the majority of whom are members and based within the core operating area.

The team at Louth is made up of eight members of staff: Claire Ravenscroft(satellite manager), Claire Corn (duty manager), Helen-Jane Hobdell, Susan Archer and Dianne Moore (mortgage advisors), Valerie Gale and Julie Buckley (senior customer advisors), and Steven Wakefield (financial planner).

The branch is open every weekday from 9am to 5pm, except for Thursday when the branch team hold staff training and open at 9.30am, and Saturdays from 9am to 12noon.

N&P offers a wide range of financial services, including mortgages, savings, bank accounts, personal loans, credit cards, general insurance broking and independent financial advice.

To arrange an appointment to discuss any of these products, people should pop into the Louth branch, or call the team there on 01507 604726.

Within the past year, staff at N&P’s Louth branch have made donations to lots of local organisations, including the Manby & Carltons LIVES First Responders, the Womens’ Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) Home from Hospital scheme, Home Start, Louth & District Help for the Homeless, and many more.

Each of N&P’s 56 branches has a dedicated community budget to make donations to local charities or non-profit-making community organisations.

Last year, N&P’s branches in Lincolnshire alone donated £15,000 to local good causes.

As a local, mutual building society, N&P is dedicated to helping and supporting local communities where it has branches.

This is reflected in the community donations that all of the Society’s branches make throughout the year.

As an organisation, N&P pledges to donate one per cent of pre-tax profits to local good causes and charities, particularly focusing on organisations which support the vulnerable, the disadvantaged and the environment.

Claire Ravenscroft, satellite manager for N&P’s Louth branch said: “We are thrilled to be working with the Louth Leader by sponsoring the Community Awards for 2008. It’s a great way of highlighting and recognising individuals who have made a contribution within the local community, and to mark their achievements. “Alongside the overall awards, we will be running a competition to win a fantastic John Lewis picnic hamper.

“We’ll have it on display in the branch, so keep an eye out for the competition slips printed in the newspaper and cut it out and bring your entry with you when you come along to make your nominations for the awards.

“We’re looking forward to receiving lots of nominations – don’t let your local hero get missed!”

The awards categories

Community Spirit Award - Someone who makes a real effort to improve the community in which they live. It could be someone who runs a local organisation or a person who volunteers hours of their own time to help others.

Top Parent/Grandparent Award – Is your mum, dad or grandparent the best? Have they overcome difficult times or given 110 per cent to care for you and your family? This is your chance to thank them!

Carer Award – Do you know someone who voluntarily cares for a relative or neighbour or a professional carer who goes above and beyond the call of duty? Say thank you by nominating them.

Customer Care Award – Who is your favourite shop assistant, receptionist, bus driver or lollipop lady? You can nominate anyone who works in a shop or office, on public transport or who gives their all to help their customers.

Techno Ted Child Achiever - For children up to the age of 12. The nominee could be a highly talented youngster or someone who has battled successfully against a disability or other disadvantage.

Top Teacher Award - The teacher nominated may have helped their pupils achieve success or be someone who 'goes the extra mile' when it comes to helping organise extra-curricular activities.

Sportsperson Award - Goes to a local sportsman/woman, girl or boy, professional or amateur, who has been highly successful in any sport or game, either at local or national level.

Youth Achiever Award - A youngster who has achieved success either at school, or in an outside school activity. It could be a young person who has an outstanding talent, or someone who has achieved something with odds stacked against them. The person nominated must be 13 to 18 years of age.

DOWNLOAD THE NOMINATION FORM