The hunt is on for unsung heroes (From Swindon Advertiser)

The hunt is on for unsung heroes

8:27pm Tuesday 1st December 2009

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THEY are the unofficial Oscars of Swindon – and today the search begins to find the town's unsung heroes.

Pride of Swindon 2010 was launched by the Mayor, Coun David Wren, at Swindon Town Football Club yesterday.

It follows the success of this year's inaugural event when 48 citizens and groups were honoured and 24 went on to receive special Pride of Swindon lapel badges.

Those 24 will have their names engraved on a plaque which will be displayed at the Central Library and unveiled next year. Every subsequent year, a plaque will be hung at the £10 million library featuring the names of the latest crop of Pride of Swindon winners.

Two of the 2009 class of Pride of Swindon winners attended yesterday’s launch; Cher Sawyer from the homeless charity Threshold, and charity fundraiser Ali McCallum, 12.

“I think it is really important to be recognised and it was an honour to receive the award,” said Ali at yesterday’s launch.

“I think Pride of Swindon 2010 is going to be a great event.”

The year 8 pupil at Churchfields School has raised more than £4,500 for the Palna children's home in India where he was brought up.

He is currently planning a curry and quiz night fundraising event in February.

Three years ago during a family visit to India, Ali wanted to see the home from where he was adopted. That sparked his fund-raising efforts which were recognised by an invitation to the Indian High Commission in London to meet India's Foreign Secretary who thanked Ali for his efforts. Cher Sawyer has been working with homeless people in Swindon for 25 years with the charity Threshold. Under her guidance, Threshold has developed an ethos of resettlement, achieving significant rates of resettlement.

“Winning the award came as a big surprise,” said Cher.

“It is nice to know that people thought we were doing good work. Sometimes your work is praised but there is no substance to that praise.”

Cher said that the volunteer sector in particular in Swindon was blessed with many people who were selflessly for a chosen cause and who deserved recognition. She encouraged people in the town to take time to put in a nomination.

“Everyone knows someone whose work deserves recognition. This is a community award so let’s go out there to find our community champions,” she said.

Yesterday’s launch was attended by a number of organisations from the town who are backing the awards. They include inSwindon, McDonald’s, Wiltshire Police, Zurich, Intel, Voluntary Action Swindon, the Great Western Hospital’s NHS Foundation Trust, Nationwide, the Volunteer Centre, and Swindon Town Football Club.

Coun David Wren, Swindon’s mayor, who is spearheading the awards, joined the call for businesses and community groups to take the time to nominate.

“These awards are very important to the community,” he said.

“They are for the community. We have people, for example, who work tirelessly, behind the scenes. This is about recognising their work for a worthwhile cause.”

Nominations will close in February and judging will take place in March. The awards ceremony takes place at Swindon Town Football Club on Thursday, April 15.

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