Every day there are people all over the country who are determined to
improve their local area.
Local Champions are the people who really do make a difference. Some
champion grass roots sport, volunteering or local enterprise.Others enthuse
young people with a vision for the future which they might not have
otherwise seen. Champions build communities and show us all just what can
be achieved with passion and determination.
These are the kind of unsung heroes who make a positive difference to life in the UK.
To give them the recognition they truly deserve, The Co-operative is launching a new Pride of Britain award - The Co-operative Local Champion Award.
Chief Executive Peter Marks (pictured, right) says: "As the largest mutual retailer in the UK with thousands of trading outlets nationwide, we are committed to supporting the communities in which we trade and recognising the extraordinary efforts of people within them.
"Everyone who is nominated for The Pride of Britain Awards is doing their bit to make their community and our country a better place in which to live. They, and the ultimate awards winners in particular, deserve our support and recognition."
You can nominate your Local Champion by picking up a nomination form and posting it in the Pride of Britain box at your Co-operative Food store, Bank, Travel or Pharmacy branch. Or you can nominate online by clicking on the Nominate Now button on the left.
The closing date for nominations is August 1st, 2008 and the winner will be selected from a shortlist by our national panel of distinguished judges.
To give you an idea of the remarkable people who are improving communities, take feisty Silla Carron, who was honoured with a Pride of Britain Award in 2006.
People living in her estate were too frightened to act against junkies and gangs who were making their lives a misery in Camden, North London. But, spurred by her concern for her grand-daughter's future, Silla single handedly drove the addicts, dealers, prostitutes and violent youths away - even though she even received threats to murder her.
Our judges pointed out: "She went beyond fighting crime. She even took children into her home to re-educate them and give them another chance in life. Her achievements are remarkable."
Memorably, when she received her award from Noel Edmonds at the Awards, (pictured, right) she showed how she gets results by pointing to the then Home Secretary, John Reid, in the audience, grinning and saying: "I want a word with you later, sunshine!"
She secured her meeting with him.. and the very next day was with him at the Home Office, voicing her concerns about how the government was fighting the drugs battle. She has also gone on to make a TV series The Estate We Are In where she travels around the country seeing how she can help improve communities.
Now we are looking for the worthy winner of The Co-operative Local Champion 2008.
You may know someone who deserves the accolade. Someone who cares more about those around them than they do about themselves.
Find out why The Co-operative is proud to be sole sponsor of Pride of Britain.