Uxbridge College has again joined its local papers the Uxbridge Gazette series for the Borough's Local Heroes awards.
The competition gives everyone the chance to nominate unsung heroes from across Hillingdon Borough for a top award, and have their stories printed in the Gazette and Leader.
Winners will attend a gala awards night held at the Hayes Community Campus on 31 January 2008.
The Local Heroes awards, which launched on 3 October, are a chance for the spotlight to be shone on people who put others first or have triumphed over adversity.
The awards are designed to acknowledge the work and courage shown by ordinary people who are the unsung heroes of the community.
There are five categories in this year's awards: Carer Hero, Community Hero, Citizen of Courage, Young Hero and Fundraising Hero.
Category winners each receive £250 and are then in with a chance of being named the overall Hero of Hillingdon and picking up an extra £500. Runners-up in the categories each receive £50.
The competition, run for the sixth year by the Gazette series and Uxbridge College, is expected to attract a bumper crop of entries and inspiring stories. Nominees must live, work or volunteer in the Borough.
Foster carer Norma Hoppe was named Hero of Hillingdon for 2006 at the ceremony held at Hayes Community Campus in January, for her decade of care and support which she, and husband Roy, have given to children and teenagers forced to leave their homes.
New Principal of Uxbridge College, Laraine Smith, said: "Uxbridge College is delighted to be joining the Uxbridge Gazette in launching the Local Heroes awards once again. This will be the first year I have been involved in this competition as Principal, and I am very much looking forward to being part of it in my new role. The competition really celebrates and supports our communities - which is what the College is all about. I am looking forward to seeing your entries, so do not be shy."
Gazette series Editor-in-Chief Adrian Seal said: "I always look forward to the Local Heroes awards, reading the many wonderful nominations sent in by our readers and hearing the exceptional cases of caring, courage, bravery and dedication and it is never an easy task selecting the finalists.
"We are looking to honour those people from across the Borough who put the needs of others before their own and we are keen to hear and publish their stories. I hope this year's event is the most successful yet."
The closing date for entries is Wednesday, 21 November, with the judging panel making its decision on 5 December.
* Under competition rules, unfortunately staff and students from Uxbridge College, and Gazette staff, cannot be nominated. However, if you know someone you think deserves to be recognised as a local hero, please nominate them! For nomination forms see the Uxbridge Gazette and Leader series, out on Wednesdays.