Wherever you are in the world, there’ll always be people in the community who go out of their way to help others. The Isle of Wight is no exception, with a huge number of charitable and volunteer organisations.
But it’s not just organisations who help make a difference, there are many individuals in the community who put others less fortunate than themselves first, and do so without any desire for financial reward or recognition.
But that is about to change. Thanks to a collaboration between the NHS Isle of Wight and Isle of Wight LINk (Local Involvement Network), the ‘Community Care Hero’ Awards are being launched this year.
Two awards up for grabs
The two new Awards, ‘Young Community Care Hero’ (under 25) and the ‘Community Care Hero’ (25+) aim to recognise the efforts of the ‘unsung heroes’ in our local community.
If you know of someone who deserves recognition for their dedication to helping others, all you have to do is make sure you nominate them (full details below) by noon on Friday (27th).
Tash Koerner, Isle of Wight LINK Locality Manager said: “The Isle of Wight LINk Community Care Hero Awards provides an opportunity to highlight and celebrate those unsung heroes who provide health and social care to the Island community. We want to involve the public in nominating those people who give without counting the cost in providing health and social care services to those in their local community”
Two categories for awards
The awards are split into two categories. The first is Isle of Wight LINk Young Community Care Hero.
This award is open to anyone under the age of 25, who goes the ‘extra mile’ to provide care for those in their community.
It could be someone who looks after a member of their family at home, it could be a young person who volunteers their time at a community centre, or helps with community projects such as helping those with mobility problems by doing their weekly shopping or providing gardening services for elderly neighbours.
They might be involved in helping to promote or campaign for healthy lifestyle choices: e.g. alcohol awareness, teen pregnancies, sexual health or they may be a young fundraiser who helps improve the health and social wellbeing of those in their community.
The second award, the Isle of Wight LINK Community Care Hero, is open to anyone aged 25 or over.
If know someone who has consistently over the last twelve months gone out of their way to help others address health and social care needs within the local community, why not nominate them?
Presentation to be made in October
The two new awards make up part of the annual NHS ‘Celebrating Excellence and Innovation in Healthcare’ Awards which take place at Medina Theatre on 6 October 2010.
OK, so now you need to get your skates on, nomination forms are available from the Isle of Wight LINk by telephoning 0300 111 0102 / emailing [email protected] or they can be downloaded from the Isle of Wight LINk website .
The closing date for nominations for the Isle of Wight LINk Community Care Hero Awards is noon, Friday 27th August, 2010.
Many thanks to Isle of Wight LINk for supporting VB by sponsoring this promotion.
