THE SEARCH is underway to find the top community heroes from Keighley.

Social housing landlord Incommunities is staging the annual Gerry Pickersgill Awards to celebrate volunteers in its homes, who give their time to help others.

Last year Bethany Tomblin and Janet Armstrong, both from the Keighley area, were joint winners.

The awards are named after a much-loved Keighley housing manager from the 1990s before Bradford Council’s housing stock was transferred to Incommunities.

Since then the awards have been expanded to cover five categories, and are organised jointly by Bradford District Tenants And Residents Federation and Incommunities.

The best neighbour prize recognises someone a neighbourhood who goes above and beyond to help others.

The best social event organiser honours that special person who really enjoys running local events that bring people together.

The best young volunteer celebrates someone aged 25 years or under who dedicates their time to helping others.

The best environmental project award recognises an individual or group that is committed to making the environment better for others, such as by setting up a gardening club.

The best community centre/social room prize celebrates a special community centre or facility that provides lots of activities and is a popular meeting place for residents.

Each category will have one winner from which the overall Gerry Pickersgill Award winner is decided.

Nominations are open to any housing association tenant, leaseholder, private tenant, owner occupier or someone living with their parents. All nominees must be volunteers.

Keighley man Alex Brown, a long-time leading light with the District Federation, said: “Last year’s awards took on a new format with more prizes and proved a big success with a record number of entries.

“Everyone is determined to build on this and attract even more nominations celebrating our unsung heroes across our communities.

“So if you know someone who you think is extra special then nominate them now.”

To make a nomination people should give details of the person they are nominating and why, in no more than 300 words, and post it or drop it at the Keith Thompson Centre, Coronation Mount, Braithwaite, Keighley, or email gerrypickersgill2016@outlook.com. Please mark your envelope ‘GP Awards’. You can also nominate online, click incommunities.co.uk/news/gerry-pickersgill-awards-2016/.

The closing date for entries is October 25.

The awards night takes place on November 10 at Victoria Hall in Keighley.