Unsung heroes across the Dudley borough are in line for special celebration with the tenth anniversary of the Mayor’s Civic Awards.

The Mayor’s Civic awards have been highlighting the work of the borough’s unsung heroes for a decade.

People can again this year submit their nominations for the awards which aim to recognise people working tirelessly in their communities.

This year, The Mayor’s Civic Awards is hosted in association with Cougar Monitoring, and other local businesses have stepped forward to support the awards by sponsoring each of the categories.

To mark the 10th anniversary, a new category has been added this year – the William Shenstone award for environment, in honour of the famous landscape gardener, and is sponsored by Marketing Force.

It will join the four other categories which are also named after the borough’s greats, including Duncan Edwards award for sport, sponsored by Alliance Leisure, the Cedric Hardwicke award for arts sponsored by Stourbridge College, the Frank Foley award for community spirit sponsored by Castle and Crystal Credit Union and the Thomas Attwood award for education which is sponsored by Computeach.

There will also be a sixth trophy up for grabs, the Mayor’s Award, which will be decided by a public vote next month (February). Mayor, Councillor Melvyn Mottram, will choose four people he feels have stood out to him on his civic engagements so far in his Mayoral year.

The public will then have the chance to vote online for the winner. Nominations cannot be put forward for this particular award. A judging panel will decide the other four categories.

Nominations for this year’s awards are now open and people will be able to put names forward until February 18.

Councillor Melvyn Mottram, Mayor of Dudley, said:

“As Mayor of Dudley I’ve been fortunate to meet people who do amazing things. It’s now up to the public to nominate these unsung heroes to give them the recognition they deserve.

“For the past decade people have helped us find and highlight the work of the these exceptional people, and I want to make this an extra special year on the 10th anniversary of the Mayor’s Civic Awards.”

Nominations must be in by February 18 and the winner and one runner-up in each category will be chosen in March. They will be presented with their prize – a trophy and a certificate by the Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Melvyn Mottram, at a civic ceremony in March.

People can nominate online (at www.dudley.gov.uk) or can pick up a nomination form from libraries across the borough from early next week. Alternatively contact communications and public affairs on 01384 814 449 for a form.

Completed forms should be sent to Mayor’s Civic Awards nominations, communications and public affairs, Dudley Council, FREEPOST MID22308, Dudley, DY1 1BR by 18 February.