Truly exceptional people who are making a massive mark in our community are being sought by Mikhail Hotel And Leisure Group for the 2026 Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards.
The glittering annual awards night takes place at The Grand in Southport on Friday 24th April 2026 where local heroes will be honoured across 13 separate categories.
At the end of the evening there will be one Main Award winner – and organisers would love you to tell them who that should be.
Whoever is crowned the Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards Main Winner in 2026 will be following in the footsteps of some remarkable community champions.
Last year, awards were made to the families of Elsie Dot Stancombe, Bebe King and Alice Dasilva Aguiar as everyone in the room stood to give them a rousing, tear-filled standing ovation.
It was the community’s way of honouring three local families who have undergone such huge loss, and yet have inspired people across the world with their courage, their selflessness and their determination to make positive change.
They have set up three impressive new charities – Elsie’s Story, Bebe’s Hive and Alice’s WonderDance, all with their own vision and sense of purpose.
They have walked into 10 Downing Street and secured £10 million from the Government to transform the Town Hall Gardens in Southport town centre into a brand new family-friendly events space.
They have raised huge sums of money through a series of events from colour runs to community days to marathons run in the UK and around the world.
They have been involved in campaigns to create a brand new playground and library at Churchtown Primary School and a new community garden at Farnborough Road Primary School.
Previous Main Award winners were Denise Fergus, who set up the James Bulger Memorial Trust in memory of her son, James Bulger, to treat deserving young people to well deserved
holidays in their lodge at Ribby Hall Village.
In 2023 the Main Award was presented to Kath Wilson, who founded the Southport Lifeboat charity and led the campaign to raise funds for and subsequently build a brand new Southport Lifeboat station, enabling volunteer crews to save scores of lives off the Sefton coast.
Mikhail Hotel And Leisure Group Chairman Andrew Mikhail said:
“It was an incredibly emotional moment last year when we announced that the Main Award was being presented to the families of Elsie, Alice and Bebe, and they stepped onto the stage to huge applause from everyone in the room.
“It was something I will never forget for the rest of my life.
“I cannot begin to imagine the huge sense of loss these remarkable families have endured.
“And yet they inspire us all every single day with their amazing kindness and their desire to create a legacy for their girls based on love, on kindness, creating happy memories for many thousands of families here in Sefton and across the UK.
“With all that they have done, and continue to do in such a selfless way every single day to support the community, this was our humble opportunity to stop and say – a huge ‘thank you’.
“We can never thank them enough for all they have achieved and all they continue to do. They are an example to us all.
“Now we’re launching the awards for this year, and we need your help.
“We would love to see your nominations for truly extraordinary people here in Sefton.
“Who do you think deserves to be celebrated at the Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards 2026?”
Nominations are open for the Sefton Main Award Winner, sponsored by Mikhail Hotel And Leisure Group, in the 2026 Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards.
People are urged to shout out with suggestions of who goes the extra mile to improve where they live from anywhere in the borough, including Bootle, Southport, Formby, Crosby and Maghull.
You can nominate here: Pride Of Sefton Awards
Or email: standupforsouthport@gmail.com
The Pride Of Sefton Awards, organised by Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group and Stand Up For Southport with support from In Demand Radio, is an unmissable fixture in the Liverpool City Region events calendar.
The ceremony will be presented by In Demand Radio presenter Claire Simmo.
All those on the shortlist will be invited to a special celebratory meal in the beautiful surroundings of The Princess Grace Suite at The Grand in Southport on Friday 24th April 2026 while the awards are presented, with a stunning night of entertainment planned.
Nominations are still being invited across all 13 categories ahead of the closing date on 1st March 2026.
For more details please visit: www.prideofseftonawards.co.uk
Please Like the Pride Of Sefton Awards page on Facebook the Pride Of Sefton Awards on Instagram
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