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Forget neighbours from hell – the hunt is on for the most heavenly residents in Birmingham and the Black Country.

The new award scheme will be launched at the Accord Housing Association ‘Streets Ahead’ residents’ festival to celebrate European Neighbours’ Day on Tuesday 27 May.

More than 100 residents and their children will gather at the REP Theatre in Birmingham from 10.30am to 3pm to launch the new ‘Making a Difference’ award scheme and celebrate neighbourliness.

They will also get the chance to explain to Accord how they think their communities can be improved. The Making a Difference awards aim to celebrate the hard work and commitment of Accord residents’ who make a real difference in their communities.

As well as the awards launch, residents will be able to use innovative activities such as a graffiti wall and Big Brother-style video dairy box to make their suggestions on how to improve the areas where they live. Accord’s main offices are in West Bromwich, Darlaston and Birmingham.

Mandy Holcroft, Accord’s Assistant Director of Housing Services, said: “This event is our chance to thank all the residents that contribute to making their neighbourhoods a special place to live.

“All too often we hear about neighbourhoods overshadowed by people making the lives of others hell - in reality they are in the minority and we think it is time to focus on the ‘neighbours from heaven’.

“But with the launch of our ‘Making a Difference’ Awards unsung heroes who work to make their communities a great place to live will now get the recognition they so rightly deserve.”

There are three categories in the ‘Making a Difference’ Awards
Neighbour from Heaven
Going Green
Exceptional Young Person (under 25s)

Residents will also be involved in deciding what prizes to award for the annual event.