Celebrating Age Festival seeks 'Super Citizens'

IF you know a ‘super citizen’ who is a shining example of what can be achieved in later life – it’s time to nominate them for an award. Winners will be announced at this year’s Celebrating Age Festival (CAF) Launch at the M Shed on Saturday 27 September and receive a medal and certificate for their achievements.

The Festival will run for two weeks until 12 October with events taking place across the city, reflecting this year’s Bristol Ageing Better theme. Judith Brown, member of CAF Steering Group and Bristol Older People’s Forum says: “It’s brilliant in Bristol and we want to honour those ‘super citizens’ who make a difference in our community. Nominees must be current Bristol residents aged 55 plus.”

Chief Executive of Age UK Bristol, Mark Baker says: “Being 55 and over can be a great time in people’s lives. At this year’s Celebrating Age Festival Awards we want to celebrate not only those who have helped others but also those providing inspiration as to the richness of later life…”

The five categories are:

Sports and Physical Activity for an older person who is a regular sports player, dancer or coach

Caring for someone who looks after a partner, friend or group of people

Challenge for a person who has ‘gone that extra mile’

Community Award for someone who is ‘making a difference to people’s lives’

Group Award for an older person’s group that ‘enhances lives’.

One of last year’s winners Roy Hackett (85) was given a Community Award. Since his involvement with the Bristol Bus Boycott in 1963, Roy has clocked up long service for a number of community organisations. This includes 50 years for the Bristol West Indian Parents and Friends Association, where he recently stepped down as Chair, and 40 years on the Bristol Racial Equality Council. He has also been a member of St Werburgh’s Community Centre committee since 1971.

He says of his award: “I was extremely pleased and grateful…There are a lot of people out there that do things in the community and have never been recognised and it’s a shame. I think it’s a good thing for people to nominate them…”

Nomination forms can be obtained from Shelley Hankins, Services Manager, Age UK Bristol, Canningford House, 38 Victoria Street, Bristol BS1 6BY, email shelleyhankins@ageukbristol.org.uk; local Neighbourhood Partnership offices or libraries.

Deadline for completed entries is Friday 12 September at 5pm and all forms should be sent or emailed to Shelley Hankins at the Age UK office. For more information or to download a form visit http://celebratingage.org.uk/

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , Back to news