Age Concern Good Neighbour Award

The Age Concern Derry “Good Neighbour Award” encourages people to care for their older community members and aims to promote community spirit by recognising those people who have made positive contributions to the lives of those older people living in our community.

A spokesperson for Age Concern Derry said “This award places attention on the needs of older people, especially those who live alone and seeks to rekindle the spirit of “good neighbourliness” for which Derry has been renowned for! Regular visits, telephone calls and providing escorting assistance form a vital link with the outside world. Having someone to chat to for perhaps even one hour a week or having a volunteer to help you to do your own shopping can boost an individual’s confidence greatly. Additionally, given the recent cold snap we experienced, good neighbours and relatives played a paramount role in ensuring the continued safety and welfare of our older community members. The extreme temperatures left some older people facing difficulties and many people went to great lengths to ensure older people had adequate heating, warm meals and food in their homes. This competition is an opportunity for older people to nominate a neighbour including younger people as a Thank You and recognition of their assistance”.

Everyone likes good neighbours and Age Concern Derry would like you to tell them about yours. Have they helped out at a time of crisis? Do they help you with your garden or do the shopping for you when you are unable to do so? Maybe they have just been there when you need someone to talk to or running simple errands, including regular visits, helping with household chores, providing transport for outings to church or shopping or simply giving some time and company to an older person living alone. The award is confined to the Derry City Council area, and is a chance for older people to pay tribute to someone special, either adult or young person, whose kindness has made a real difference to their life. If you know someone, or a group of people, who deserve recognition for the help or devotion they show to an older neighbour, why not nominate them for this prestigious award and let them know that their input into an older person’s life is appreciated and an example to us all! Any school, group, family or individual can be nominated!

The Good Neighbour Award will be presented at a Presentation Evening on Monday, March 8, 2010.

To obtain nomination forms, please contact Age Concern Derry, Malvern House, Chapel Road, Londonderry, BT47 2AN or telephone 71347 478. The closing date for nomination forms is Friday, February 26, 2010!