Parmjit Singh Gill Launches Search For Local Heroes

Parmjit Singh Gill, MP for Leicester South, is urging Leicester residents to nominate their community's local heroes for recognition through the Nationwide Awards for Voluntary Endeavour.

Organised by Nationwide Building Society, in association with the National Council for Voluntary Organisation (NVCO) and the Newspaper Society, NAVE is designed to reward voluntary work and community activity that has made a real difference to people's lives.

The awards are in their eighth year, and receive around 1,500 regional and national nominations every year.

Rachael Williams from Leicester was one of nine winners last year from the Central region.

She received a young persons award for her three years of volunteering at the Northfields Youth Centre, where she was running play activities for 8-12 year olds three times a week, in addition to a work as school ambassador and youth committee member.

Gill said:

"2005 is the Year of the Volunteer and so it's especially important that we celebrate the work of volunteers in our community".

"There are over a hundred voluntary groups doing fantastic work for the people of Leicester. I will be nominating someone this year and I hope others will join me."

Nominators can pick up an application form from their local Nationwide branch, local public library, or online at www.nationwide.co.uk.

The closing date for nominations is 29 April 2005.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. There are four award categories:

· Young people under 18 as individuals

· Young people under 18 in groups

· Adults as individuals

· Adults in groups

2. Initially two regional winners in each category will be selected making a total of

eight in each of seven regions within England, together with Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The eighty regional winners will each receive an attractive plaque, along with £50 dining out vouchers for individuals or £100 for groups. From each region and home nation, four finalists will win gifts to the value of £250 and a trophy, plus a £500 donation to the charity or cause of their choice. From the forty finalists, four national winners in each category. They will each receive gifts to the value of £500, together with £2,500 donation to the charity or cause of their choice and trophy.

3. Nomination forms and more details can be found at your local Nationwide branch,

public library or online at www.nationwide.co.uk/about_nationwide /community_relations/awards/ no_form.asp.

4. Central region winners, which include awardees from Leicester, will be announced in July. National winners will be announced in October.

5. For further information on the Year of the Volunteer, visit the Year of the Volunteer

2005 website at www.yearofthevolunteer.org.