Birthday Treat for Community Guardians
07/04/2009
Hundreds of Community Guardians were praised for improving their neighbourhoods at a Town Hall celebration.
Manchester has recruited 300 residents who have adopted their local area and act as the 'eyes and ears' of the council to report anything needing attention.
Since the scheme was set up five years agomore than 6,000 calls have been made to report problems. The volunteers have received more than 3,000 calls from other residents and have helped get more than 2,000 hanging baskets planted.
All the volunteers were invited to the scheme's birthday party as part of the year-long Proud of Manchester campaign, which was launched earlier this month.
Volunteers
Among those who attended was Gloria Barnwell, who won last year's Pride of Manchester award for her work in Gorton, Marlene Garnett from Newton Heath, who was the first Community Guardian, and Mary Armstrong from Collyhurst, who won the 2007 Pride of Manchester award.
Evelyn Uche, who helped transform Longsight by encouraging residents to plant hanging baskets, also attended.
Council spokemans Paul Andrews said: "Over the past five years we've seen inspirational stories about people who have gone out of their way to make life better for their neighbours.
"But I know there's hundreds more men and women across the city who are proud of their neighbourhoods, and we'd love to hear from them."
To find out more about becoming a guardian call 0800 083 7924 or email communityguardians@manchester.gov.uk
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