Last updated at 14:33, Monday, 28 November 2011

A VOLUNTEER described as “the backbone” of a Neighbourhood Watch group for a decade has been nominated for a Love Barrow Award.

• Awards nod for youth council member Sarah

ACCOLADE: Watch co-ordinator Pete Thomas has already been presented with the High Sheriff’s Award for his work with the Fife Street Neighbourhood Watch LINDSEY DICKINGS REF: 50025473B000

Peter Thomas, co-ordinator of Fife Street Neighbourhood Watch, last month won the High Sheriff’s Award for his outstanding contribution to the communities of Barrow and Furness.

His efforts have now earned him a nomination for Citizen of the Year in the Love Barrow Awards 2012.

Mr Thomas has been put forward by Dave Coverdale, the Barrow locality manager for Barrow Fire and Rescue Service and chairman of the Barrow Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, of which Mr Thomas has become “an integral part” since he joined around three years ago as a community representative.

Mr Coverdale said the support Mr Thomas, of Fife Street, gave people in his street was “second to none” and always in a patient and down-to-earth manner.

He said: “Peter has been recognised as a community champion in a number of guises over the years.

“He is a great advocate for ‘active citizenship’ where individuals from the community make a real difference for the people who surround them.

“Peter has regularly supported community initiatives delivered right across Barrow, for example with his presence on StreetSafe operations and attendance at other community-focused events.”

Mr Thomas never misses a CDRP meeting and Mr Coverdale said all partners, from the statutory andvoluntary sectors, recognised his input as “invaluable”.

Mr Coverdale said: “Shortly after Peter’s acceptance to join the partnership, he suggested the Neighbourhood Watch model was a great way forward for community engagement and empowerment.”

Mr Thomas said of the partnership’s work to set up more Neighbourhood Watch groups: “We’re crawling before we can walk, but we’ve spoken to seven or eight groups on Walney with the help of the PCSOs and we have six or seven up and running.”

First published at 13:27, Wednesday, 02 November 2011
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk