Look who is behind our search for Sunderland's community champions

The biggest housing provider in Sunderland is backing the Best of Wearside Awards in its bid to honour the champions of our communities.
Nigel Wilson, the chief executive of Gentoo which is backing the Best of Wearside Awards.Nigel Wilson, the chief executive of Gentoo which is backing the Best of Wearside Awards.
Nigel Wilson, the chief executive of Gentoo which is backing the Best of Wearside Awards.

Bosses at the Gentoo Group say they are proud to once again support the search for the best that Sunderland and County Durham has to offer.

Nigel Wilson, Chief Executive Officer at Gentoo Group said: “As a proud Sunderland-based housing association we are dedicated to Wearside and want to help highlight the positive and inspiring work that goes on across the city.

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“It’s important to celebrate the unsung heroes in our communities who contribute so much to our brilliant city, from fundraising to proving essential support, these people are what makes Sunderland such an amazing place to be.

The 2020 Best of Wearside Awards.The 2020 Best of Wearside Awards.
The 2020 Best of Wearside Awards.

“I’d like to wish all the nominees the best of luck for the evening. You truly are the best of Wearside.”

Mr Wilson added: “As the biggest housing provider in the city, housing more than 60,000 customers, we know our tenants and neighbourhoods are at the heart of everything that is great about our city. That’s why we are delighted to be a partner sponsor for the awards.”

Gentoo Group manages over 28,000 social housing properties in Sunderland and throughout the year and bosses say they continuously support people doing great things in communities through its Aspire and Empower Sunderland grant programmes.

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This year’s competition has backing from headline sponsor BGL, partner sponsor Utility Alliance, partner sponsor Gentoo, and category sponsors Marelli and the North East Autism Society.

We thank them all for getting on board, and now comes your turn to get involved.

We hope you will inundate us with entries and make the job of the judges that much harder.

Take a look at the categories, read the entry instructions, and your favourite cause will be a step closer to hopefully winning a Best of Wearside title.

THE CATEGORIES

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Community Group of the Year; Student of the Year; Green Champion of the Year; Child of Courage; Child of Achievement; Young Voice of Wearside; Fundraiser of the Year; Volunteer of the Year; Sporting Achievement of the Year; Community Champion Award.

HOW TO NOMINATE

To nominate, just send your name, address and telephone number, as well as your email address, if applicable. Remember to include the category you are putting your nominated cause into.

Also send the name of the person you wish to nominate, along with their address, telephone number and email (if known).

Send all of that to Lynn Wild by no later than March 2. Judging of all the entries will be held that same week with the finale at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday, April 1.

There are three ways to nominate.

l Email those entries to [email protected].

l Post them to Lynn Wild, North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC), Wearfield Enterprise Park East, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR5 2TA.

l Visit the website at https://www.bestofwearside.co.uk.