river clyde homes

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO TUESDAY 31 MARCH

Inverclyde's Provost, Michael McCormick, this week gives his backing to the River Clyde Homes search for the area's Real Community Heroes.

His role as Provost and Post Master leads to meeting all areas of the community on a daily basis and the Provost believes there are hundreds of Real Community Heroes within Inverclyde.

Launched four weeks ago, in conjunction with the Greenock Telegraph, the search for Real Community Heroes is the first phase of the Up Close campaign. Up Close is a ground-breaking community initiative which will reflect on Inverclyde's heritage, shape its future and celebrate the area's community spirit.

Provost McCormick, said: "Working at the heart of the community means I meet the area's unsung heroes on a daily basis. The post office is a real community hub and I get to see first hand the kindness and generosity of people in the area.

"Inverclyde is changing and positive steps are being taken to improve the physical fabric of the area; plans are already underway for refurbished and new social housing in the area and already we can see the physical landscape changing. However it is the people that ultimately make a community and I'm delighted to see that good old-fashioned community values are thriving as the structural changes continue to progress.

"This campaign is open to all residents of River Clyde Homes who make a positive impact on the lives of others – although anyone in the community can nominate. I know there are lots of people out there who do everything from popping in to make a cup of tea for an elderly neighbour and collecting some essentials from the shops through to setting up community groups and encouraging a sense of belonging in the community and this campaign is open to all."

All nominations for Real Community Heroes must be over 16 and live in a Rive Clyde Homes property. However people nominated can be new to the area, well known and recognised for their contribution to the community or doing small good deeds that can make the world of difference to their neighbours.

Karen Neary, chief executive of River Clyde Homes, said: "River Clyde Homes is all about the people and we want to ensure that good work within the community does not go unnoticed. There are a vast number of community initiatives in the area which are run and attended by people committed to making a contribution to the lives of others.

"The tenants I meet with often have glowing praise for the people who live and work beside them. Although our older generation make a significant contribution, I'm also starting to hear more about the good work being undertaken by the younger members of our community and people who are new to the area."

RCH will select six people to be the faces of the Up Close campaign from the nominations received. Each will secure £500 of funding for an Inverclyde community initiative of their choice.

The Real Community Heroes will be officially unveiled in the summer when the Up Close exhibition launches in Oak Mall.

The exhibition will collate tales of Inverclyde past, celebrate current successes and inspire people to look with confidence to the future. It also aims to encourage local people to get involved in planning and designing new communities across the area. People will be invited to submit photos, memories, films and artefacts to the Up Close exhibition and website to help build a memory bank of the development of social housing in Inverclyde.

There's still time to nominate your Real Community Hero by filling in the attached form, logging onto the website or collecting a form from River Clyde Homes, libraries, leisure premises or your RCH neighbourhood officer.