Organisers of The Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards have thanked people for submitting a huge number of entries already this year.
The third Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards will honour local community heroes from across the borough in 13 separate categories when the event takes place at The Grand in Southport on Friday 25th April 2025.
The ceremony will thank and honour the most remarkable community in the UK after it has shown such strength and kindness through such traumatic times.
You can nominate here: Pride Of Sefton Awards
The Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards wants to recognise local heroes of all ages from Southport, Bootle, Crosby, Formby, Maghull and across Sefton 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 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 and the local community impacted by last summer’s tragedy in Southport.
Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Chairman Andrew Mikhail said:
“We have been overwhelmed by entries since we launched the Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards in September last year.
“This is an event we all look forward to every year and the response we have had already has been incredible.
“We really do have some truly special people here in Sefton who deserve to be celebrated.
“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 thriving in the arts world? A local charity champion? We would love to hear all about them.
“Nominating is easy, either through our Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards website or through email: standupforsouthport@gmail.com
“We all feel very humbled to be joined by such remarkable local heroes at the awards. It is always an honour to be able to recognise the people who make our community such a special place.
“We have been very moved to present awards to some exceptional winners over the past two years.
“We would like to thank all the local businesses which have come on board to sponsor the categories and to make these awards possible.
“At the first two events, we raised funds for the ICU Steps Appeal. But in the aftermath of last summer’s terrible tragedy in Southport, it seemed right to support the Southport Strong Together appeal by the Community Foundation for Merseyside.
“We look forward to receiving your nominations.”
Stand Up For Southport Director Andrew Brown said:
“The Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards is a wonderful way of showcasing some of the extraordinary people we have in our community.
“The nominations we have received so far is a testament to how much local residents contribute so selflessly towards supporting others. We are grateful to everyone who has taken the time to put forward your nominations.
“Please get in touch and let us know of anyone you feel should be recognised for what they do.”
There are 13 categories on offer in this year’s Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards.
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 Grand pride Of Sefton Awards 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.
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