People are being asked to choose the winner of a prestigious award from the Mayor of Dudley.

Nominees have been unveiled today as part of the Mayor’s Civic Awards. The Mayor of Dudley, Cllr Mohammed Hanif, has chosen four groups who have stood out to him during his Mayoral year, and the public can now go online to vote for the one they feel most deserves the award. The winner of the Mayor’s award will be the one with the most votes and announced at the Mayor’s charity ball in March.

The nominees include Duncan Edwards film maker, Rose Cook; Keith Stroyde, who runs an internet café and support group for people in need in Lye; The Diyya Project, which provides help and support to tackle isolation amongst women and teenage girls in the borough’s Muslim community and charity fundraiser, Shaz Saleem. Cllr Hanif said:

“I have met some incredible people in my duties as Mayor of Dudley and it was very difficult selecting just four for the Mayor’s award. I am delighted to be able to share the opportunity to celebrate the work they do in this borough through the Mayor’s Civic Awards.

But it is up to the people who eventually wins the award. I urge you to go and vote for the one you feel most deserves the Mayor’s Award.”

Nominations for the other six categories are now closed and the winners will be chosen by a judging panel over the next few weeks.

They are the Duncan Edwards award for sport, the Cedric Hardwicke award for arts, the Frank Foley award for community spirit, the Thomas Attwood award for education, the Mike Holder award for business and the William Shenstone award for environment.

The winners and runners-up will be presented with their prize - a bespoke piece of glass designed by local glass artist Allister Malcolm and a certificate - by the Mayor of Dudley, at the Mayor’s Ball and Civic Awards at the Copthorne Hotel, Brierley Hill in March.

The annual ball raises thousands of pounds for the Mayor’s chosen charities each year and award winners will have the chance to celebrate their achievements with distinguished guests.

People can buy tickets, and vote, online at mayorofdudley.org.uk.