The third Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards is seeking your nominations to honour the most remarkable community in the UK after it has shown such strength and kindness through such traumatic times.
The glittering event, one of the biggest in the Liverpool City Region’s events calendar, will take place at The Grand on Lord Street in Southport on Friday 25th April 2025.
Organisers would love to hear your suggestions about who you should be recognised across 13 different categories, each sponsored by a local business.
You can nominate here: Pride Of Sefton Awards
This year has seen the most horrific tragedy with the deaths of three young girls at a Taylor Swift themed dance and yoga event in Southport and July, which left several others severely injured. That was followed by rioting which caused immense damage.
Both events were followed by a tremendous sense of community spirit and togetherness, and it’s time now to honour those unsung heroes who have done so much.
The Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards also wants to recognise local heroes of all ages from across Sefton, in a wide range of categories, who do so much day after day to make our borough such a special place to live and work.
The event is organised by Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group and Stand Up For Southport, with media support from In Demand Radio.
The previous two awards events have raised thousands of pounds for the ICU Steps Appeal.
This time all money raised on the night will go towards the Southport Strong Together Appeal, supporting the families impacted by the tragedy in Southport.
Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Chairman Andrew Mikhail said:
“I have mixed emotions about the Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards this year after the terrible tragedy we saw in Southport earlier this year.
“Our hearts were broken when we all saw what happened when those three young girls were killed and so many other children and adults were so badly injured, including some of those who rushed to help.
“How the community responded since then to that tragedy, and to the rioting that followed, has been magnificent.
“We are all so impressed with how everyone pulled together amidst so much adversity.
“It really showed the world how strong, how kind and how resilient our local community is.
“At the Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards we would love to see your nominations, and we have plans to pay a special tribute to those involved.
“A big part of the night will be honouring the three girls who died; Elsie Dot, Bebe and Alice, and everyone else who was affected.
“The Grand Pride of Sefton Awards is always a spectacular event. This year it will be particularly poignant, very moving, and an occasion where we celebrate some truly remarkable people. We will make it a really special occasion for everyone there.
“We would like to thank all our sponsors for making this night possible.”
There are 13 categories on offer in this year’s Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards.
Stand Up For Southport Director Andrew Brown said:
“We are seeking nominations from across Southport, Bootle, Formby, Crosby, Maghull and across Sefton in a range of areas, from School of The Year, Diversity and Inclusion, Business In The Community, Sefton Arts Award, Unsung Hero, Charity Champion, Sportsperson and Young Sportsman Of The Year, Courage Award, Child of Courage, and more.
“We would love to hear about the people who go the extra mile to make where we live a better place for all.
“The stories we heard at last year’s Pride Of Sefton Awards were incredibly moving, and very inspiring. It was a privilege to be there.
“Do you know that unsung hero who does so much to help others? Someone who has shown bravery or courage? A school you’re proud of? A local sporting hero? Someone blazing a trail in the arts world? A person making a difference to a local charity? Please let us know.
“Nominating is easy, either through our Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards website or through email: standupforsouthport@gmail.com
“We look forward to seeing all your nominations.”
The 2024 main Pride Of Sefton Awards winner, sponsored by The Grand, was the inspirational Denise Fergus. Denise, whose young son, James Bulger, was kidnapped and murdered in Bootle in 1993, has dedicated her life to operating the James Bulger Memorial Trust to benefit and support young people who are disadvantaged by reason of having become the victims of crime, hatred or bullying.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to renowned local radio broadcaster John Cooper.
The main winner in 2023 was Kath Wilson, the tireless campaigner behind the Southport Lifeboat charity and the new Southport Lifeboat Station.
Sir Kenny Dalglish and Marina Dalglish meanwhile were awarded the first ever Lifetime Achievement Award for their incredible work raising millions of pounds and changing countless lives through The Marina Dalglish Appeal and supporting families whose lives were devastated by the Hillsborough Tragedy.
We are looking for nominations, across Southport, Formby, Crosby, Bootle, Maghull and elsewhere in the borough of Sefton in 13 categories:
1 – Main Award – Pride of Sefton
The night’s premier award will salute a person or organisation who judges believe has made a truly inspiring or outstanding contribution to Sefton over the past two years.
2 – Diversity and Inclusion Award
Sefton is a truly welcoming borough. We’d love to hear about those who have gone out of their way to promote diversity and inclusion within our area.
3 – Sefton Arts Award
Sefton wants to shout loud and proud about those who have achieved remarkable things in the world of stage, screen, and music. We want to hear about bright young things and those who have made it to the very top.
4 – Charity Champion Award
Charities local and nationally survive and thrive on the cash raised by big-hearted fundraisers. And they have really needed it in these tough times. We don’t just want to hear who has raised the most, but how they have done it, what difference has it made and why it has inspired you.
5 – Child of Courage Award
We are searching for nominees who have shown immense courage in the face of adversity. Courage comes in different shapes – is it a child who has battled illness, performed an act of bravery or done something truly remarkable while up against the odds?
6 – Courage Award
Many tales of the heroism, courage or bravery of people from Sefton go untold – and we’d like to change that. Nominees could have performed a dramatic rescue or maybe they’ve overcome illness or injury to record inspiring achievements.
7 – Unsung Hero Award
Tell us about the person who makes a huge difference to our borough’s communities, organisations or teams but who rarely gets a spot in the limelight.
8 – Community Impact Award
Which person or organisation has had the biggest positive impact on their community? How have they made Sefton a better place or helped people? Have they used their heart as well as their business head to serve their area?
9 – Sportsperson of the Year
Whose achievements in the sporting arena have been the brightest over the past two years?
We want nominations from all sporting fields – from amateurs to professionals, and from coaches to players.
10 – Young Sportsperson of the Year
Which of Sefton’s sporting juniors have recorded the biggest achievement? In a borough with so much talent we would expect a deluge of entries. Tell us who stands out? (Nominees must not have reached their 19th birthday by 1st March.)
11 – Business In The Community Award
Businesses play a vital role in making our communities better for all. We’d like to celebrate all those who have made a real difference.
12 – School Of The Year Award
Schools are brilliant at getting involved in local issues. But which ones have gone further to really improve the world around them? We’d love to honour those that have.
13 – Lifetime Achievement / Special Recognition Award
This award recognises a person who has made an outstanding and lasting contribution to life in Sefton. There will be no shortlist for this title announced prior to this award – instead the judging panel will reflect on potential candidates during the process and the winner will be awarded on the night.
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrownn@gmail.com
