Citizen of the Year 2014 launched

by · Published · Updated

mk-300We’re pleased to announce the launch of the 2014 Citizen of the Year Awards – the annual search for a local hero in Leamington, Warwick, and surrounding area.

Do YOU know a local hero? Someone who lifts the lives of others, often selflessly and without reward? Perhaps a community volunteer with a local group, charity, health centre, church, sports team or youth group? (The list of possibilities is endless, and it can be an adult or u16). If so, we’d love to hear from you and you can nominate easily online at www.citizenoftheyear.org.uk

Once again we have the excellent support of The Courier and the press coverage starts next month – keep an eye on the Courier each Friday. We also have the fabulous support of Alsters Kelley Solicitors who are the main sponsor for this year.

The Gala Awards Ceremony is on Friday 26 September at Bridge House Theatre, Warwick School. Doors 7:00 for a 7:30 start. Once again we’ll have live entertainment inbetween the awards and our compere for the evening is again none other than Dave Sharpe. Tickets are on sale HERE and Brakes Trust members are entitled to adult tickets at £10 rather than £12. (Select Concession).

We’re very excited about this year’s campaign already and we invite all Brakes fans to get involved!

ds-300FAQ

Why does the Brakes Trust organise the Citizen of the Year Awards?
That’s a good question, and some suggest the project might be better suited to an organisation like the Rotary. But the campaign was launched as a means for the Trust to reach out into the community, to make connections outside of the regular circle of Brakes fans and our membership. The last three years has seen the Trust connect with a number of community groups, as well as cementing a number of relationships.

We have also secured fantastic business support and made money not only for the Trust (which has funded share purchases in the club) but also for charities like Help for Heroes, Warwickshire Northamptonshire Air Ambulance and Warwickshire Young Carers Project. This year we are pleased to be supporting Side by Side Theatre Company and Macmillan (profits are split equally three ways between the Trust and the two charities).

Sounds good, how can I help?
The biggest two challenges are getting the message out and pushing tickets for the Gala Awards Ceremony. Here’s some ideas on how you could get involved:
1. Follow @leamcitizen on Twitter and retweet our posts. Leamington and Warwick have a vibrant Twitter community which we hope to engage to best effect.
2. Help out with getting the message out to community groups in person. There’s lots of community groups, sports groups, churches, youth groups (etc) which we’d love to visit in person to drop off nomination forms and tell them all about the event. Drop us an email if you could help, we’d really appreciate it.
3. Help with ticket sales, maybe getting together a group of Brakes fans together for the evening out.
4. The event posters aren’t ready yet but when they are, we need help with getting them out and about around Leamington, Warwick, Kenilworth, Whitnash and surrounds. We’ll be targeting supermarkets, newsagents, pubs, community hubs, health centres and religious venues.
5. Help out on the evening of the Awards: there are lots of jobs including on the door, manning the raffle, stage hands and stewarding.

To get involved, drop an email to Nick Rogers and Nick Hallworth on info@brakestrust.com

Many thanks and looking forward to seeing you at the Gala Awards Ceremony!

 

[Photography by Stephanie Colledge]