Features

LAST CHANCE: Nominations end Friday 31st October 2008

The search for the BBC Sports Unsung Hero is taking place across the United Kingdom. It will see winners named in the following 15 BBC Nations and Regions:

Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, East, East Midlands, London, North East & Cumbria, North West, South, South East, South West, West, West Midlands, Yorkshire, Yorkshire & Lincolnshire.

We are looking for an individual who, on a voluntary basis, makes a real difference to sport within your region. This person will give their time and talents to enable others to participate in sport. This may be in helping an individual, team or teams.

• This sport can be at any level.
  
• They must be someone who gains no financial reward for their time and effort.
  
• They must be aged 16 years or over.

Regional judging panels, made up of a cross-section of BBC sports staff and other local sports experts, will decide each regional winner in November.

Keith Everitt, Unsung Hero 2007

All 15 will then will be invited to this year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year show, broadcast live from the Liverpool Echo Arena on Sunday 14 December between 7-9pm, where an overall winner will be announced. 

85 year-old Margaret Simons took the overall award in 2007 for her work over 40 years in junior football. 

Bursaries of up to £2,500, provided by award supporters Robinsons, are also available to winners of each regional award. This is to help them with their work in sport and the community.

Boxer Tony Jeffries is backing the awards as the North East and Cumbria's regional ambassador. Tony knows how important the contributions of unsung heroes can be - he credits his own unsung hero Bobby Bute with making him the success he is today.

Tony Jeffries and Michael Bute.

Tony told BBC Look North: "Bobby Bute was my coach from when I was ten years old until 2005, when he passed away. For years, he put so much time and effort into all the boxers in the gym. For someone to put so much time into something like this and not get paid a penny for it, has got to be a special kind of person.

People like Bobby should get recognition for all the hard work they put in, because they put hours and hours into it. So many people who work in different sports, they deserve it."

Previous winner

Last year's local award was picked up by Keith Everitt for his continual support of football and coaching of St Francis 2000 FC.

You can find more information on Keith's work along with other 2007 winners by clicking on the link below:

How to make a nomination

For the nominations there are two ways to nominate either online here:

or by downloading the following PDF

To enter, you must ensure all the sections are filled in. Any nomination that doesn't include details of the nominee cannot be accepted.

Send the completed form before the closing date of Friday 31 October 2008 to:

BBC North East & Cumbria Sports Unsung Hero,
Broadcasting Centre
Barrack Rd
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE99 2NE

Your nominee must be informed and have agreed to being entered, nominees may be asked to appear on BBC TV and/or radio. The judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding their decision.

The competition complies with the BBC's new Code of Conduct on Competitions and Voting which is published on the BBC's website.