TIME is running out for residents to nominate a Neighbourhood Watch volunteer for national recognition.
The organisation is calling for nominees for its Volunteer Recognition Awards 2025, with the deadline due to close for new nominations at 5pm on Sunday, July 6.
Awards categories include innovation and reach, crime prevention, community health and wellbeing, young volunteer and special recognition.
Neighbourhood Watch has already received over 250 nominations and have chosen to highlight one of last year’s winners to showcase what a worthy award recipient looks like.
The organisation has highlighted Sam, a NW Coordinator won our Innovation and Reach category in 2024.
Sam is a dedicated Coordinator from Lancashire and the judging panel was impressed and praised his efforts in ‘innovatively working with schools and the older generation.’
The award winner set up Halton Neighbourhood Watch, which meets regularly to continue its mission to tackle loneliness and litter.
To meet these objectives she initiated a scheme to support those living alone whereby children from Halton and schools in Lancaster produce homemade cards with positive messages.
She then personally delivers these to mostly older people who live alone and rarely see others.
Sam has also organised monthly litter picks with over 50 local residents taking part. Neighbourhood Watch hope sharing Sam’s story will inspire residents to nominate someone having a similar impact on their local community.
A spokesperson for Neighbourhood Watch said: “So if you know a Neighbourhood Watch volunteer that you feel has broken down barriers, reached further within a community, or has simply mad a difference to your life, then why not nominate them.”
Nominees will be made aware they have made a difference to their local community, even if they are selected as finalists or go on to become award winners.
Visit www.ourwatch.org.uk/volunteerawards to nominate an individual.
