Is there an unsung hero in your community who you feel doesn’t get the recognition they deserve? Now is your chance to help them get that recognition – and see them rewarded with a cruise holiday too.
Liverpool Echo has teamed up with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines to offer 30 cruises to those people making a real difference as part of 'Cruises for Community Heroes' launching today. All you have to do is nominate someone who you think is deserving in your community.
It could be someone who goes the extra mile for children or older people in your area, someone who has put their all into fundraising or someone who has really supported their community during the cost of living crisis. All nominations will be considered by a panel of judges with the winners receiving a cruise for two with Fred. Olsen.
You can enter the competition here or use the form at the end of the story
There’s everything from a ten-night sailing to spot whales in Iceland, to a 15-night exploration into Northern Norway to witness the phenomenal Midnight Sun. There will also be opportunities to experience Greenland in the summer months, to sail into the heart of the Norwegian Fjords or seek out some winter sunshine in a cruise to the lesser-visited isles of the Azores.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Managing Director Peter Deer told the Liverpool Echo: “We have a long-standing relationship with Liverpool and it’s something of which we are immensely proud. In fact, this year we are celebrating our 20th anniversary of sailing from the city, having first sailed along the Mersey with our first cruise ship Black Prince.
“With all the years we've been sailing from Liverpool, we wanted to do something that's really community spirited. The people of Liverpool have always looked after our ships and our crew and given them a very warm welcome and, when we started sailing again after the pandemic, we were supported by the local community both in terms of serving the vessel and those who travelled with us on those first few cruises in 2021.
“We wanted to do something in return and thought a great way of doing this was looking for people in the community who are doing something in a selfless way, almost like your unsung heroes."
There are no strict guidelines on what makes a winner, we just want to hear feel-good stories from your community. Some nominations may be featured in the Liverpool Echo throughout the duration of the competition.
Peter added: “We'd love to hear about as many of these community heroes as possible, so we can invite them on board and thank them for everything they do. I think it’s just a matter of people coming to us and saying ‘this is what this person has done’.
“It really could be anything, such as supporting arts in the local community in a different way, helping people who are much older, or supporting young people getting back into education – there is no 'one size fits all' approach - it's about finding special people in the community, and providing them with a fantastic experience aboard our ships in return."
Liverpool Echo editor Maria Breslin: “We are absolutely thrilled to be partnering with Fred. Olsen to launch the Cruises for Community Heroes campaign. It’s going to be a wonderful celebration of the Liverpool City Region’s remarkable people and a chance to recognise their many incredible achievements.
“Merseyside is home to so many seemingly ordinary people doing extraordinary things and making a massive impact in our communities and this is a way of showing our gratitude. Working with Fred. Olsen makes this extra special. It’s a much-loved line in Liverpool with many of our readers having happy memories of unforgettable holidays on board their ships.”
