The search is on for a community hero who has made a real difference to life in Middlesbrough.
The town’s Citizen of the Year Award is an annual celebration of good citizenship and public service – and nominations close on Sunday, April 30 at 5pm.
The prestigious annual award will be given to someone who has made a truly outstanding contribution to their community and the town as a whole.
And it’s up to local people to put forward the names of those they think most deserve one of the town’s highest honours.
Suitable candidates might include a worker or volunteer who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in their dedication to helping others, and whose tireless work or acts of kindness have made a real and lasting difference to the lives of those around them.
Last year’s winner was Tony Wedlake. In 2017 he co-founded the Teesside Family Foundation which not only supports many local activities but also provides specialist equipment for disabled people, support for the elderly, homelessness help, and support for forces veterans.
The foundation has raised somewhere in the region of £400,000 over the last four years.
He has also arranged many fundraising events raising thousands of pounds to help provide treatment for poorly children and specialist equipment for children with disabilities.
At the time he said: “If you’re a Boro lad, you support the Boro and grow up on a council estate - to win Citizen of the Year of your home town? To me there’s nothing better in the world...”
Cllr Stephen Hill, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Culture and Communities, said: “Middlesbrough’s Citizen of the Year awards has included many, many worthy winners in the past so we’d really like to see as many nominations from as wide a field as possible. Please don’t be shy in putting forward someone you think makes a real difference to the town and its people
To nominate someone as this year’s Citizen of the Year visit Civic Awards | Middlesbrough Council