HOME insurance provider Flood Re has this week announced the judging panel for its Local Heroes award, which opened to entrants in July.

The expert panel of six will initially be tasked with drawing up a shortlist of six entrants, which will be announced in October.

They will then decide on the national winner and five runners-up, which will be announced at a reception at the Palace of Westminster on November 28.

The six judges are:

  • Mary Dhonau, Community Flood Consultant;
  • Heather Shepherd, Community Support & Flood Recovery Specialist at the National Flood Forum;
  • James Reader, CEO of Covéa Insurance;
  • Alastair Ross, Head of Public Policy (Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland) at the ABI;
  • Jennie Ludford, Corporate Communications Manager at NFU Mutual and
  • Andy Bord, CEO of Flood Re

Launched around the ten-year anniversary of the 2007 floods that shook communities across the country, the award will recognise individuals, community groups and local flood action groups that have shown leadership and resilience around flood relief efforts.

The award is still open to entrants, with people able to nominate their ‘Local Hero’ –which may be themselves, someone they know or a group that has made a real difference during the toughest times of flooding – until September 18.

The national winner will be awarded a £10,000 fund to go towards their local community’s response to flooding or a local flood relief charity of their choice. The award is sponsored by Covéa Insurance and NFU Mutual.

Andy Bord, Chief Executive of Flood Re and Chair of the judging panel, said: “We’ve heard stories of heroism, resilience, and community spirit from all over the country.

"It’s been inspiring to read the many amazing entrants to this competition we have received already.

“We’d like to thank everyone who has taken the time to submit a nomination, and to remind everyone who would like to but hasn’t yet that it’s not too late.

"I look forward to working with the other five judges to pick out the very best entrants and come to a final decision on who most deserves the title of Local Hero.

“We are grateful to Covéa Insurance and NFU Mutual for their generous support of the competition.”

Visit floodre.co.uk to find out more about the award.