Days left to vote for your unsung heroes

Don’t miss this great opportunity to say who should pick up one of the Borough’s Big Thank You Awards. The community awards, sponsored by Scarborough based McCain, are for people who have carried out good deeds, made it through a personal challenge, raised funds for charities and taken pride in the borough. We need your votes for the Personal Challenge category for anyone who has experienced problems in their life but has shown strength of character. The new category represents the mayoral theme of “Breaking the Cycle”. Mayor of Scarborough, Cllr Tom Fox said: “Breaking the cycle is so important in tackling causes, not symptoms. It’s about dealing with the hard issues that affect many people, and many parts of this borough - whether it be offending, drugs, alcohol, chaotic lives including homelessness or worklessness. “The problems are often complex and there are no easy answers. Sometimes it is easy to judge and condemn but with the right support people can make positive choices to turn around their lives, improving not only their own lives, but that of their family and community too. “That is why it is so important to give recognition to those who have ‘broken that cycle’, a celebration of that fact whilst creating an incentive to others by their example that they too can ‘break the cycle’.” If you know someone who has done exceptionally well to show strength in the face of their problems, recognise their achievements by nominating them for the award. Amongst the latest batch of nominees is talented and passionate Katie Muschamp. In her nomination for Courage over Adversity the 23-year-old has been praised for “never letting her disability stop her from achieving her goals” and it hasn’t discouraged her from performing on stage and in public. Also in the running for three awards is Molly Beautyman who is said to be “a fantastic tole model for her fellow peers.” Molly volunteers during school time and her own time at places such as Castle House and always receives glowing praise. In the running for the Volunteer of the Year Award is Duncan Sutcliffe for who has “single-handedly created a new centre for FirstLight Trust.” Duncan removed the walls, put up new ones, laid flooring and has worked seven days a week for several months. His nomination reads: “He is a truly remarkable man and one of the nicest people in Scarborough.” The scheme is run by Scarborough’s Mayor, Cllr Tom Fox, in conjunction with The Scarborough News, with the winners announced at a ceremony at Scarborough’s Spa Complex on Tuesday April 19. The deadline for nominations is Thursday March 17 so nominate now at www.scarborough.gov.uk/boroughsbigthankyou.