Is your neighbour a local hero? Have they helped to make your neighbourhood a better place to live? If so, Gateshead Council wants you to put them forward for an award
The Council is looking for local residents to point out people who have personally taken a stand against anti-social behaviour in their community - by nominating them for a prestigious Safer Gateshead Award.
The awards will be presented later this year by the Mayor of Gateshead, Councillor John Eagle at a special ceremony at Gateshead Civic Centre.
The awards are sponsored by Gateshead Council and The Gateshead Housing Company.
Councillor Peter Mole, Cabinet member for Safer Stronger Communities, says: “Anti-social behaviour ruins communities and ultimately ruins lives.
“It isn’t just unpleasant to live with – anti-social behaviour can also create an environment where more serious crime can take hold. And that’s something which none of us should tolerate.
“These awards are our way of recognising the commitment of ordinary people who do extraordinary things to make their area better. We think people like that deserve an award – and want to give them one!“
Bill Fullen, Chief Executive of The Gateshead Housing Company, is pleased to be working with Gateshead Council, the police and the courts to reduce anti-social behaviour, and has vowed to keep on doing so.
He said: “These awards will acknowledge the tremendous work done by local residents to make their neighbourhoods safer.
“Our tenants and leaseholders have told us that their number one priority is dealing with anti-social behaviour on estates.
“We intend to carry on making sure that the small minority of people who cause misery, nuisance and annoyance to others are dealt with severely, and show that there is no place for anti-social behaviour in Gateshead.”
Last year, 11 individuals and five local organisations were nominated by their friends, neighbours and associates for Safer Gateshead awards in recognition of their involvement in work to tackle anti-social behaviour in their community. Gateshead Council is hoping for a similar number of nominations this year.
The Safer Gateshead awards form part of the government’s Respect agenda which aims to encourage people to work together to take a stand against anti-social behaviour in their community. The award seeks to recognise and show appreciation for the contribution individuals and groups have made towards the Government's Respect Agenda.
The term anti-social behaviour covers a wide range of selfish and unacceptable activity that can blight the quality of community life. Terms such as ‘nuisance’, ‘disorder’ and ‘harassment’ are also used to describe some of this behaviour.
Examples include nuisance neighbours, yobbish behaviour, intimidating groups taking over public spaces, vandalism and graffiti, and the reckless driving of mini-motorbikes.
Safer Gateshead is a partnership involving Gateshead Council, Northumbria Police and other organisations dedicated to reducing crime and making local communities safer.
Nomination forms are available from the Gateshead Council website, or by contacting David Patterson, Safer Communities Team at Gateshead Civic Centre on (0191) 433 2807, or by email davidpatterson@gateshead.gov.uk
Nominations close on Friday 19 February, 2010.