Neighbour of the Year 2019
For the second year running, we've launched a nationwide search in partnership with our friends at Neighbourhood Watch to find and celebrate some of the UK’s best neighbours.
Neighbour of the Year 2019 by Co-op Insurance and Neighbourhood Watch
Following on from the success of last year’s inaugural award, Co-op and Neighbourhood Watch are looking once again for people to nominate their neighbours who go above and beyond to help their neighbourhood and surrounding community, to find the UK’s Neighbour of the Year 2019.
Additionally this year sees the introduction of a new category to crown someone the ‘2019 Community Spaces Champion’. The new award will celebrate someone who has shown commitment to either save, improve, or use a local space for the good of their neighbours or overall community.
Does this sound like your neighbour?
CloseNominate your Neighbour
Nominations are now closed for this year. Our 2019 winners will be announced in mid-November.
Neighbour of the Year 2019 by Co-op Insurance and Neighbourhood Watch
Last year, Co-op members created a criteria for what makes a good neighbour in today’s society, resulting in four traits which entries for Neighbour of the Year will be judged on this year:
Traits of a good neighbour:
- Good neighbours look out for each other, for example keeping an eye on the house
- Good neighbours are sociable and friendly - happy for a chat or a party invitation
- They’re practically helpful - from taking in parcels to offering help with the plumbing
- They’re kind, caring and respectful - more specifically thinking about the impact they have on neighbours
Meanwhile the Community Spaces Champion Award will be judged on how people have used a space in their local area to make a difference. This will be things such as setting up a sports match for neighbours at a local park; creating a community garden; setting up a support group in a community; or even helping to save a space from being shut down.
If you know someone who ticks all these boxes and more, tell us all about them and how they go above and beyond. You can nominate them for either Neighbour of the Year Award, Community Space Champion…or both!
Nominations close on 18th October 2019.
CloseCommunity Spaces Champion
Find out more about our brand new award category for 2019.
Community Spaces Champion
This year sees the introduction of a new category to crown someone the ‘2019 Community Spaces Champion’. The new award will celebrate someone who has shown commitment to either save, improve, or use a local space for the good of their neighbours or overall community.
The ‘Community Space Champion’ comes as Co-op partners with charity, Locality, to launch an Endangered Spaces campaign to protect, support and improve 2,000 at-risk community spaces by 2022.
Close2018 Winner
Find out more about Paul who was crowned Co-op Insurance and Neighbourhood Watch’s 2018 Neighbour of the Year.
We caught up with last year’s winner, Paul Zeun, and his neighbour Abby who nominated him, to chat about how they feel one year on since Paul was crowned the first ever Neighbour of the Year.
- Co-op So, one year on! Now you’ve had time to reflect, how do you feel about being the first ever winner of our Neighbour of the Year Award?
- Paul I’m still amazed, actually…I still can’t believe it. It’s been a good year! In fact, only a couple of days ago, one of the flats in our block has just been sold and the people who have bought it actually recognised me and said “were you the neighbour of the year last year?!” to which I said, yes! And that’s still happening a year on – it’s just amazing. As for the party, it was just great – everybody had such a good night, and we’re all still talking about it a year on.
- Co-op How – if at all – has the award changed how the neighbours see Paul? When thinking that he is UK’s Neighbour of the Year 2018?
- Paul When I first won, I felt a bit of a star – especially after being on TV and radio. Everyone was talking about it! My neighbours were telling their friends about me, who then were calling me up to congratulate me, my family and Abby’s family were sending their congratulations. And a year on, I’m getting reminders of it on Facebook from when people were posting about me winning last year – it’s lovely.
- Abby I think it just highlighted the things that Paul does for all of us. Although we did all thank Paul before the award, when he won the award, it made people realise just how much he does for everyone. It’s great that he’s been recognised for all that he does. It gave everyone the opportunity to truly recognise what Paul does, and congratulate him on his well-deserved award.
- Co-op Has it encouraged any other neighbours to do things differently/have they been influenced by Paul’s generosity as a neighbour?
- Paul To hear what Abby had said about me was truly heart-warming and I think that all the neighbours are closer because of the experience; it’s brought us together.
- Abby We think more about how our behaviour affects one another and how we can all help each other. I think the award has really made people think about how to be better neighbours. And I guess in a way to thank Paul, we have all decided to step up to do more for each other.
- Co-op Would you encourage others to get involved with entering the award? Why?
- Paul Most definitely! It brings people together…it just makes where you live a happier place; it’s an amazing thing to do.
- Abby Yes! If you have got a neighbour who goes out of their way to be neighbourly and bring people together, it’s a great way to thank that person. It’s a really special way of being able to show someone just how much they mean to their neighbours.
- Co-op Abby, can you give us an idea of the thought process behind entering Paul for the award?
- Abby When I saw the competition, I immediately thought of Paul; I wanted to do something extra special to thank him for all he’s done. And, actually, when I was completing the form and answering the questions about what kind of things Paul does as a neighbour, it made me realise just how much Paul does and why he is such a great neighbour.
- Co-op Abby, how do you feel the win has impacted Paul?
- Abby It was just so nice to see! I didn’t know how Paul would react to me nominating him – I wondered how he would take it – would he be embarrassed by the attention? I was a little bit worried about how he’d react, but I when I told him I’d nominated him, he took it really well and I could see that he got a lot of enjoyment out of the whole process. When he won, I saw that he was over the moon, and it was great to see everyone celebrating his award!
- Co-op How did you find the nomination process?
- Abby It was an easy process, and it really got me thinking about how lucky I am to live here and have Paul as a neighbour.
- Co-op Paul, how did it make you feel to know that Abby had taken the time to nominate you for this award?
- Paul Initially, Abby phoned me and asked if I was available for a photoshoot because she’d nominated me for the Neighbour of the Year…I hung up on her because I thought it was a joke! Then, Co-op phoned me telling me I’d won the competition! They sent me what Abby had said about me on the nomination form, and why she had nominated me and I was just so overwhelmed with it all, I really was. What a lovely thing for someone to do for me! I know I do things for my neighbours, but to see it in writing and all listed out, it was a lovely experience; really heart-warming.
- Co-op What would you say to someone who’s thinking of nominating their neighbour for the award this year…any advice?
- Paul Go ahead and do it! Everybody has got a chance of winning it. For me, just being nominated was an achievement.
- Abby Even just a nomination is a lovely gesture for a neighbour who always helps you out.
- Co-op Is there anything else you’d like to mention about your experience of winning the award?
- Paul What a fantastic night it was when we had our party! Go ahead and enter your neighbour; if anyone has done a good deed – no matter how big or small – nominate them for it!
- Abby Even the small things that good neighbours do can have a huge impact on people – whether that’s reducing loneliness or making peoples’ lives easier by putting the bins out. It doesn’t matter how big or small, it still makes a difference.
- Paul Even a simple smile goes a long way! Looking out for people is something I’ve always done – whether that’s when I’ve been living abroad or here in the UK, I’ve always been the same and it obviously works!
- Abby I’ve got a question…can I nominate him again?!
2018 Winner
Co-op Insurance and Neighbourhood Watch crowned Paul Zeun from Sheffield 2018’s Neighbour of the Year for his consistent caring and neighbourly behaviour.
Paul was nominated by his neighbour, Abby Wilson who first met Paul when she locked herself out of her flat 10 years ago and he helped her to get back in. They have been friends ever since.
Over the past decade, Paul has helped her to redecorate her new flat, taken her to A&E and picked her up from hospital several times. He also feeds her cats when she goes away, takes in parcels and even brings in the washing when it rains.
Paul has cared for terminally ill neighbours and looks after his other neighbours by doing the shopping for those who can’t, shares his DIY skills and looks after people’s pets. He originally instigated and continues to organise communal themed BBQ’s and Christmas fancy-dress parties.
Abby said: “Paul has done so much for me and the wider community over the years and he’s an extremely deserving winner. He has been instrumental in developing real friendships that have blossomed throughout the neighbourhood.
“Paul’s kindness and generosity is and always has been felt, even when he himself is in need or having difficult times. Paul’s door is always open to the neighbours and he’s there to cheer you up when you’re feeling blue.”
Commenting on the award win, Paul said: "I was totally overwhelmed when I found out that I had won this award. I enjoy helping people and getting to know everyone in the neighbourhood - I believe that if we all did this, the world would be a much happier place!"
CloseMedia Content
The search is on for the UK’s best neighbour and community champion
News release
The search is on for the UK’s best neighbour and community champion
Co-op Insurance and Neighbourhood Watch have officially opened up nominations today (13th September 2019) for their Neighbour of the Year Award 2019, to find the UK’s best neighbours.
Following on from the success of last year’s inaugural award, Co-op and Neighbourhood Watch are looking once again for people to nominate their neighbours who go above and beyond to help their neighbourhood and surrounding community, to find the UK’s Neighbour of the Year 2019.
Additionally this year sees the introduction of a new category to crown someone the ‘2019 Community Spaces Champion’. The new award will celebrate someone who has shown commitment to either save, improve, or use a local space for the good of their neighbours or overall community.
The ‘Community Space Champion’ comes as Co-op partners with charity, Locality, to launch an Endangered Spaces campaign to protect, support and improve 2,000 at-risk community spaces by 2022¹.
A panel of judges from Co-op and Neighbourhood Watch will be deciding who will be the overall Neighbour of the Year winner, and who will be crowned Community Space Champion in November. There will also be regional prizes up for grabs.
Last year, Co-op members created a criteria for what makes a good neighbour in today’s society, resulting in four traits which entries for Neighbour of the Year will be judged on this year:
Traits of a good neighbour:
- Good neighbours look out for each other, for example keeping an eye on the house
- Good neighbours are sociable and friendly - happy for a chat or a party invitation
- They’re practically helpful - from taking in parcels to offering help with the plumbing
- They’re kind, caring and respectful - more specifically thinking about the impact they have on neighbours
Meanwhile the Community Spaces Champion Award will be judged on how people have used a space in their local area to make a difference. This will be things such as setting up a sports match for neighbours at a local park; creating a community garden; setting up a support group in a community; or even helping to save a space from being shut down.
Last year’s Neighbour of the Year winner, Paul Zeun came from Sheffield and was nominated by his neighbour, Abby. Paul, 53, was commended for his consistent caring and neighbourly behaviour over the past decade.
Research from Co-op Insurance revealed that last year that a third (31%)* said that they’d love to be friendlier with their neighbours, whereas this year, only a fifth (22%)** said the same.
It also seems that people think that they aren’t getting on with their neighbours as much this year, as just 18% said that they get on better with their neighbours now than they did five years ago, whereas last year, a third (30%) said that they got on better. However, it’s not all doom and gloom, as the year-on-year research results revealed that around the same amount of people would say that they’re good friends with their neighbours (2019: 36%, 2018: 35%).
Caroline Hunter, Head of Home Insurance at Co-op said: “We’re really looking forward to seeing what the second year of this competition will bring.
"We know that people are doing great things as neighbours, and in their overall community, so we’re looking forward to hearing about these people and celebrating those neighbours who are doing things that are extra special in their community."
Rebecca Birkbeck, Director Community and Shared Value at Co-op said: "Everything we do is rooted in our members and the communities we serve, and these awards encapsulate just that.
To see the range of entries we get this year will be fantastic; we expect these awards will show just how important a sense of community wellbeing is, and how spaces play such a crucial role in allowing people to come together to ensure happy and healthy communities."
John Hayward-Cripps, CEO of Neighbourhood Watch Network, said: “With so much focus recently on what divides us, it’s good to be reminded of the ordinary people who make our nation great. The kind, every-day deeds of neighbours help create safe, secure and happy neighbourhoods where people, families and communities thrive. That’s something we can all unite behind. I look forward to seeing the nominations to be reminded just how wonderful people can be."
For further information contact:
Hannah Charlton
[email protected]
07713 314 894
Claire Newmarch
[email protected]
07808 609 944
Notes to Editors
For more information, and for links to the nomination form, please visit https://www.co-opinsurance.co.uk/hub/neighbour-of-the-year/
Alternatively, if you’re a Co-op member, you can access the nomination form here: https://joinin.coop.co.uk/opportunities/245
¹This is part of Co-op’s overall Co-operate 2022 vision – you can find out more information here: https://www.coop.co.uk/communities
*Research conducted on behalf of Co-op Insurance by Atomik among 2,000 homeowners and renters in the UK in July 2018
**Research conducted on behalf of Co-op Insurance by Atomik among 2,007 UK homeowners and renters in August 2019
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