PRIME MINISTER Gordon Brown is calling on communities across the country to help identify local heroes, such as dedicated York foster carers, Tony and Wendy Whitbourn.

Tony and Wendy have devoted 28 years to fostering 74 children, giving them all a warm and caring home.

It was a record of selfless caring that brought them to the attention of none other than the Queen herself when the couple received the MBE earlier this month in the New Year's Honours list.

Now Prime Minister Gordon Brown wants to help identify more unsung heroes like Tony and Wendy.

The Prime Minister 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. They are the everyday heroes who make Britain great.

"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."

To find such people, Tony and Wendy are urging people in North Yorkshire to nominate those they think have made a difference locally.

Tony said: "Wendy and I foster children because we enjoy it and gain great satisfaction from helping others.

"People have often said to us we deserve a medal for the work that we do.

"If you think that about someone you know, please remember to nominate them for an honour. We were certainly proud and thrilled to receive our MBEs."

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

To find people like Tony and Wendy, the Government wants the involvement of organisations across the country - from charities and voluntary organisations to local councils and health authorities, sports clubs and youth clubs to church groups and old people's homes.

To find out how to make a nomination, go to www.honours,gov.uk, phone 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.


More carers desperately needed

MORE foster carers are still needed in both York and North Yorkshire.

At the moment, there are approximately 90 registered foster carers in York, a figure Ruth Love, group manager for children and families with City of York Council, says is too low. On occasion shortages have led to children having to be sent out of York.

If you are interested in becoming a foster carer, phone City of York Council's special fostering line on 01904 555333, or North Yorkshire county Council on freephone 0800 389 2362. All potential foster carers will be carefully vetted to make sure no children are placed at risk.

But no adult will be excluded from consideration, if they have something to offer.