Taking a real pride

2:46pm Friday 23rd May 2008

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The search for York's community champions is now in full swing, with nominations flooding in for The Press's fifth annual Community Pride Awards.

The awards, held in conjunction with City of York Council, are a celebration of special individuals and groups whose sterling work marks them as true champions of the place where we live and work.

As usual, leading businesses throughout York have been proud to support the awards as sponsors, stepping forward to honour outstanding teachers, hard-working volunteers, fundraising stalwarts and courageous children.

And as in previous years, our main sponsor is Norwich Union, who support the Community Pride Person Of The Year category. Other sponsors this year include McDonalds, who support the Child Of The Year category, Drax (Teacher Of The Year), Joseph Rowntree Foundation (Best community project) and CPP (Best Senior or Higher Education project). City of York Council also sponsors a category.

All sponsors are invited to be represented when the winners of their category are unveiled at a glittering ceremony at York Racecourse in October. BBC Look North Harry Gration is one of the comperes at the heart-warming event.

Kevan Baker, UK community affairs manager for Norwich Union, said the company was delighted in being the overall sponsor of the event and sponsor of the York Community Person Of The Year category for the fifth time.

He said: "As a major York employer, Norwich Union is committed to supporting communities through the extensive corporate responsibility activities we run each year in the city. We are particularly proud therefore, to be supporting the Community Pride Awards for the fifth year running.

"We feel that these awards give recognition to the unsung heroes' of the city - those people who give tirelessly of their time, for little or no recompense, to help those who are in need or less fortunate.

"We know that the awards this year will be as big a success as in previous years and look forward to handing over the prize for Person Of The Year."

Melanie Wedgbury, head of external affairs at Drax, said the awards fitted well with the firm's community campaign aims of education, youth sport and the environment.

"The awards night is amazing," she said. "It really brings a lump to your throat - the winners are truly inspiring and we are only too pleased to be associated with recognising their achievements."

If you are a business interested in singing the praises of unsung York heroes (and raising your company profile into the bargain), a few categories are still available for sponsorship. To find out more about the great benefits of associating your firm with the awards, contact Nigel Briggs on 01904 567168 or email nigel.briggs@ycp.co.uk.