So who is top neighbour? (From Basingstoke Gazette)

So who is top neighbour?

10:20am Monday 15th March 2010 in

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A HOUSING association is encouraging residents to become good neighbours by nominating those who help others for A Place to be Proud of Award.

Kingfisher HVHS Housing Association is sponsoring the awards for the sixth year, and a representative will judge the Good Neighbour category to celebrate those who care about others living around them.

Penny Luke, partnership communication manager, said: “We are one of the largest social housing providers in north Hampshire with 7,000 homes and 20,000 residents living in Basingstoke and the surrounding areas.

“So for us, having a good neighbour is really important. We want to promote good neighbours and when I talk to residents they want others to act in a neighbourly way and almost go back to old-fashioned values of looking after each other.”

The award will recognise a neighbour who has gone out of their way to involve themselves in the community and make it a great place to live.

Mrs Luke said: “We know that many people out there in the community do really good things with their neighbours, whether they are running football teams or coffee mornings for elderly people, or just helping someone get to a hospital appointment.

“There are all sorts of ways that people can help and I know our residents are very good at doing that, and these awards will help promote that across Basingstoke. They help show that Basingstoke is a vibrant, good place to live and that there are a lot of good people here.”

She added the judges will look for someone whose efforts stand out from the crowd, and said: “It may have been a one-off incident, such as helping someone during the heavy snowfall, or perhaps something out of the ordinary. But it could also be someone who has helped a neighbour time and time again.”

To nominate in this and the other categories go to destinationbasingstoke.co.uk. The deadline for entries is March 26. The awards, which will be hosted by BBC Radio Berkshire’s Anne Diamond, will be presented at a special awards dinner evening in Festival Place, Basingstoke on May 23.