Award-winning Wilberforce year

Members of the Wilberforce 2007 team

It involved more than 144,500 local people, generated around £1 million in spending by visitors to the city, and raised the profile of Hull across the country.
And now, the achievements of the Wilberforce 2007 programme have earned it one of the most prestigious public relations awards in the country.
The year-long programme, held to mark 200 years since the abolition of the British slave trade, featured different events taking place across the city almost every week.
They included concerts, lectures, exhibitions, festivals and workshops, some of which were attended by prominent religious leaders, politicians and artists from across the globe.
The programme, put on by Hull City Council and partners, has now scooped the Best Public Sector Campaign award from the national Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), which attracted a record 853 entries across its 28 award categories this year.
"Even making the short-listing stage was a reflection of the original thinking and dedication of a good number of people," said Mitch Upfold, the programme's lead officer, who collected the award at a ceremony at the London Hilton, along with other Wilberforce 2007 team members.
"Building on our global history, we can make a difference to how our city is viewed by others." Other achievements of the Wilberforce 2007 programme include the Fight for Freedom petition, set up to urge governments to help end modern slavery, which has so far attracted nearly 100,000 signatures.
Meanwhile, the British Government has now designated August 23 as the annual focal point for future national commemorations of the Abolition of Slavery.
"The momentum the bicentenary has created needs to be built upon, maximising the opportunities it has given us to make Hull a top destination for visitors and investors, and a place where people are proud to live," said Hull City Council chief executive Kim Ryley.
To sign the petition visit www.wilberforce2008.com