Why not nominate a hero today? That’s the message from sponsors backing this year’s Comet Community Awards as the deadline for entries fast approaches.

We’ve had hundreds of nominations for our annual awards, but there is still time to put forward someone for one of the 12 categories – which include Carer of the Year, Good Neighbour and Nurse/Care Worker of the Year – ahead of the deadline on Friday, April 22.

Our sponsors will be helping to judge the entries and decide who are the finalists for a special ceremony taking place at Letchworth’s Icknield Centre on May 20, and visited the Comet’s offices in Stevenage to get acquainted.

For the second year running the awards’ lead sponsor is Stevenage-based retail park Roaring Meg, and marketing manager Sarah Rawlings said: “As Roaring Meg Retail and Leisure Park is an integral part of Stevenage, we are delighted to be the main sponsor of the Comet Community Awards.

“Our own monthly Roaring Meg Community Heroes programme has enjoyed another successful year, rewarding those people within the community who go above and beyond for no personal gain – heroes such as Marie Judd, who raised £10,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support in memory of her friend, and Linda Hallidae, who used the power of social media to help the homeless at Christmas.

“With the nominations period soon coming to a close, we feel this is the perfect chance to acknowledge and celebrate people’s good deeds.”

George Hay Chartered Accountans in Letchworth is a new sponsor this year, and is backing the Good Neighbour category.Accountant Caroline Hicks said: “George Hay Chartered Accountants has been established since 1939. Having had such a long history within the area, we decided to give a little something back and support the Comet Community Awards 2016.

“The community awards is a great opportunity for you to put forward that person who has gone the extra mile to help improve the quality of someone’s life. “It’s a wonderful way to show these individuals how much their effort means to those who they support – an ideal way to say thank you.”

Stevenage-based Airbus Defence and Space is sponsoring the Teacher of the Year category. Site director Andy Stroomer said: “We are proud to sponsor this category for the Comet Community Awards 2016.

“We are keen supporters and activists of the STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – programme in Stevenage and the UK.

“This award highlights our appreciation for all teachers who work hard to deliver the crucial education required by our next generation of satellite engineers, technicians and scientists. ”