Specsavers Unsung Hero Award 2010 launch

Islanders are encouraged to nominate their unsung hero, someone who has given selflessly to the local community.

The Specsavers Unsung Hero Award is now in its 12th year and will culminate at next February’s Awards for Achievement gala evening. It celebrates a person who works, often behind the scenes, for the welfare of others in the local community. This may be in any capacity, whether for a recognized association, group or charity or simply by helping others.

Specsavers founder Dame Mary Perkins says: ‘The Specsavers Unsung Hero award was launched to recognise people who give generously and selflessly of their time and efforts for the benefit of others.

‘Over the years we have had many worthy nominations and eventual winners – there are so many people working behind the scenes in the island, and it is important to recognise what they all do for our local community.’

Swimming teacher Jo Norman was one of six shortlisted candidates last year, who went on to win the award, after a record 600 votes from the public. Jo was nominated by Hautes Capelles Junior School where she gives up many hours of her own time every week to teach the pupils to swim.

The other five short-listed nominees last year included Vivien Webber, who was involved in setting up the Guernsey Audio News Service in 1978 and has been its editor ever since, producing 70 tapes a week to enable people with visual impairment to keep informed of local news and matters of interest; Garry Collins, who at just 29 had invested 11 years into Guernsey Bowls, spending thousands of hours in administrating a world sport, where Guernsey is now equal to countries like England and Australia; Marjorie Dodsworth, who has been a committee member of the Guernsey Association of Royal Navy and Royal Marines for more than 30 years, as well as being a member of St John’s and until recently, the Russell’s Day Centre and Les Cotils; Sarah Bamford, who works endlessly in the local community to help others in need, including through the Communicate charity, the You Can Do It Foundation and Volunt-here; and Lesley Perchard, who has been a Samaritan for 30 years, been with the WRVS for 20 years and does hairdressing at least once a week at the Jubilee Day Centre.

All nominations are carefully considered on an annual basis, so islanders can nominate someone again.

Nominations need to be received by Friday 26 November, then a panel of judges, including the Bailiff, Sir Geoffrey Rowland, will select a shortlist from which the public will be asked to vote for their winner. The successful nominee will win the Specsavers Unsung Hero Award trophy, a £3,000 holiday voucher and £1,000 for the charity of their choice.

Forms are available from Specsavers’ office at La Villiaze, call Alex Hanna on 233667 or email alexh@gg.specsavers.com, or available to download on guernseyachievementawards.com. Forms are also available at various public locations around the island. (from ICfeed)