Residents from across Blackburn with Darwen have nominated hundreds of their local heroes for this year’s Community Volunteer Awards - and Talk Ourselves Well is one of the finalists.

The Darwen Mental Health talking group is amongst the 329 nominations which were received, showing the gratitude that people feel for all the work put in by the borough’s volunteers and helpers over the past year.

Si Donnelly, 48, founder of Talk Ourselves Well, said he is over the moon.

He said: "Somebody, I don't know who, but somebody has nominated me for the Community Involvement Award.

"Last year I was up for the health and wellbeing award and the grassroots award because people had nominated me due to the work we have been doing and unfortuntately we were a finalist but we didn't win so this year I hadn't thought about it but I got an email to say you have been nominated as a finalist for the Community Involvement Award.

"It's made me feel really positive because even if we don't win it shows that people are recognising the work that we do within the community, so it's just been real positive and reiterates that the service we are providing is needed and that people are taking note."

Talk Ourselves Well was created off the back off two of Si’s friends taking their own lives, with nine months between their deaths.

Si said he had had enough and wanted to do something to prevent suicide, he decided to use his voice and created Talk Ourselves Well in 2020 to try and engage people in just talking openly about their experiences and challenges with mental health.

Suicide is the biggest killer of men aged under 40, and the North West has the second highest suicide rate in Great Britain.

The group are hoping to be the winner this evening at the awards taking place at King George’s Hall, hosted by BBC Radio Lancashire breakfast show host Graham Liver.

The Community Volunteer Awards celebrate the wonderful people and groups who make a difference in Blackburn and Darwen year in, year out.

The ceremony will celebrate the often heroic work and achievements of our borough’s volunteers, and give them a chance to shine after years of supporting other people and helping to make our borough and our communities a better place.

Categories include Volunteer of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, Young People’s Award, Grassroots Awards, Good neighbour Award and Environment Award, among many more.

Councillor Phil Riley, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "Blackburn with Darwen is, and always has been, a borough that rises to all challenges together, and this is especially true of our community spirit.

"The Community Volunteer Awards embody this are a real testament to the dedication and tireless work of the people who volunteer day in day out to help make our borough a better place.

"The nominees this year are truly inspiring and every volunteer and community champion deserves the highest recognition and thanks.

"We should be very proud that we have so many people in Blackburn with Darwen who give their time and energy to help others and make a difference to their lives.

"This is very much the best of our borough and I want to give my heartfelt thanks to everyone involved.”