Every day there are people all over the country who are determined to improve their
neighbourhoods.
Some make a stand by challenging drug dealers, prostitutes and yobs
who have turned their estates into dangerous and hellish places to live. Others
set up neighbourhood watch schemes to make their areas safer and inspiring projects
to care for the elderly and enthuse young people in their communities.
These are
the kind of unsung heroes who make a positive difference to life in the UK. They
are the people whose achievements we celebrate at Pride of Britain with the
Neighbour Of The Year award.
Feisty Silla Carron, who won the accolade at Pride
of Britain 2006, exemplified the qualities the judges are looking for every year.
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 singlehandedly 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 2006 Awards, 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.
Now we are looking for the worthy winner of this
year's Neighbour Of the Year.
You may know someone who deserves the accolade.
Someone who cares more about those around them than they do about themselves.