NEWS/GO3 PR - Do you have a local hero?

Way hey! This journalism lark is a doddle when you just cut 'n paste press releases.

I can't keep saying the same thing about caveats and cautions every post, so in time we'll juts have to take 'em as read. ok?

Even if, as here, this time we are talking what, in theory, should be a more trusted, trustworthy and/or objective source.... HMG.

In fact I have created a new category for news from guys with such provenance, titled GO3, which is actually one of my acronyms from way back and stands for GOGOGO, from GOV, Local GOv and nGO. The last by the way, does include some with more obvious and less objective agendas, so should be viewed accordingly.

Anyhooo... here we go:

Prime Minister Gordon Brown is calling on communities across the country to identify the local heroes who they believe should be honoured by the nation.

Gordon Brown said:

"All of us know someone in our street or someone in our community who spends all their spare time helping others. They are always raising money for charity, running errands for elderly neighbours, coaching kids, or doing something to bring the town together.Carers, helpers, or just good neighbours, nothing is ever too much trouble or too much effort: they are the people who inspire us all, make our lives happier or easier, and make our neighbourhoods safer and stronger. And how many times do we say to each other: 'That person deserves a medal'. Well I think it is time they got what they deserved. And that is why I want us to see more of our local heroes presented with an MBE or an OBE by Her Majesty The Queen."

DETAILS

In this year's New Year's Honours List, more than 4 in 5 of all the OBEs and MBEs awarded went to people who have carried out valuable charitable or voluntary work, either as a career or in their own spare time.

The honours presented by HM The Queen are highly-valued. There are only around 2,000 awarded each year and only the most worthy candidates succeed.

Anyone is allowed to make a nomination - you do not need to be an official of any organisation. To find out how, go to http://www.honours.gov.uk, call 020 7276 2777, send an e-mail to ceremonial@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk or write to the Ceremonial Secretariat, 35 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BQ.

Nominations are considered by the independent Honours Committees, and their recommendations on who should be honoured are announced twice a year in the New Year's Honours and HM The Queen's Birthday Honours.

The nomination process is very rigorous and can take some time. And unfortunately, because receiving an honour is rare, not everyone can succeed in achieving this special recognition, but that should not stop them being considered, and your local hero has the same chance as everyone else.

Now my distaste for the term 'hero' in such a context is well known, and documented here, so moving swiftly on... still seems worth passing on.