YORK is proving to be a city of heroes, with nominations for the community pride awards 2008 coming in thick and fast.

Joan Cawood has been put forward for the Volunteer Of The Year award.

Joan, of Mistral Court, Fossway, York, is a volunteer at Older Citizens Advocacy York (OCAY), which provides a much-cherished support service for older people.

She has been nominated by OCAY manager Linda Tester for the years of sterling support she has given to pensioners across York.

Linda said: "Joan is an amazing lady. Throughout her life she has been committed to serving others. She worked as a teacher and then became a nurse, spending many years at York District Hospital. She spent four years as part of the York Community Health Council and was a member of the Older People's Forum before getting involved with Older Citizens Advocacy York (OCAY) in 2002.

"As an advocate, Joan is outstanding. She never leaves any stone unturned to ensure that the people she advocates for have their voices heard and achieve their aims.

"Her sense of justice and fairness is formidable, and heaven help anyone who is seen by Joan to be marginalising an older person or discriminating against them in any way."

Linda said Joan's achievements and hard work is made all the more "amazing" considering her disabilities.

"Joan has severe osteoarthritis, is deaf and recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease," she said.

"She is in need of support from social services to assist with activities and deteriorating health, yet this does not stop her from being an active force for good.

"Joan is a modest and unassuming person and will probably give me a ticking- off for drawing attention to her, but for me it is a privilege to know Joan and to have her as an invaluable part of the OCAY team - a sentiment that I know that everyone who knows her will echo."

The Community Pride Awards, run by The Press in alliance with the City of York Council, and which are now in their fifth year, are a celebration of special individuals and groups whose sterling work marks them as true champions of the place where we live and work.

To nominate someone in one of the 14 categories, fill in the coupon that accompanies this article.

Send a non-returnable picture of your nominee if you can, along with a supporting statement setting out why your nominee deserves an award.

Send nominations to Community Pride Awards, Paula Homer, The Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN. Alternatively, you can email us at editor@thepress.co.uk