In Demand Radio presenter Claire Simmo has spoken of her excitement at hosting the 2024 Pride Of Sefton Awards.
Claire will be co-hosting the glittering awards alongside sports broadcaster Fraser Dainton at The Grand on Lord Street in Southport on Friday, 26th April 2024.
People are being invited to nominate the local heroes you would like to see honoured via the website www.prideofseftonawards.co.uk
Claire Simmo said: “Being from Sefton and growing up here, to be able to stand on stage and celebrate inspiring local people from our community is incredible.
“I am blessed in being able to host a lot of awards events. The Pride Of Sefton Awards is a really special one, because it’s honouring real people, unsung heroes who quietly go about making a real difference to where we live.
“Last year’s Pride Of Sefton Awards ceremony at The Grand was a very emotional night.
“Seeing the Children of Courage and hearing about what they go through, while still raising money and awareness for charity; seeing people working so hard to make out schools better places for our children; discovering the huge lengths that some people go to so they can raise huge sums for local charities; it was a privilege to be there with them all.
“Our main winner, Kath Wilson, founded Southport Lifeboat after her son died off the coast and has devoted her life to building that life-saving charity. When her name was announced and she came up to the stage to such loud cheers, I was in bits.
Southport Lifeboat founder Kath Wilson celebrates winning the main Pride Of Sefton Award. Photo by Kevin Brown Photography
“The great thing about our winners last year is that none of them do what they do for recognition. None of them expect it. They are just so humble, and do what they do because they have a desire to help others and to improve their local community.
“They are all real heroes, and they deserve an unforgettable night in the spotlight as our way of saying thank you to them.
“We really appreciate all the sponsors and local businesses who have come on board this year to make this event happen.”
England kickboxing international and British Taekwondo champion Isabella Dixon celebrated her 10th birthday at the Pride Of Sefton Awards by winning the Sefton Young Sportsperson Of The Year Award, sponsored by DT Hughes Contractors. Photo by Kevin Brown Photography
The Pride Of Sefton Awards will once again take place at The Grand on Lord Street in Southport, organised by Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group and Stand Up For Southport with media partners In Demand Radio.
Claire said: “The Grand is a stunning place to host an event like this.
“It is one of the most beautiful venues in the North West. It has that real wow factor.
“When you first walk in, and then when you go up that sweeping staircase and into that fantastic Princess Grace function room, you know you’re in for a special night.
“Now we need people to send us their nominations! It couldn’t be easier – it takes a few seconds via the form on the website www.prideofseftonawards.co.uk
“Just think – who do you know in Sefton who changes your life for the better?
“Please get nominating and let us know who you know who deserves to be celebrated at the 2024 Pride Of Sefton Awards.”
Debbie-Lyn Connolly Lloyd has won the Sefton Diversity and Inclusion Award, sponsored by Sefton Council, at the 2023 Pride Of Sefton Awards. Photo by Kevin Brown Photography
The closing date for entries is Monday 22nd March 2023.
Last year’s main Pride Of Sefton Awards winner, sponsored by The Grand, was the inspirational 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.
A total of 13 Pride Of Sefton awards were presented to those who give so selflessly for others, with the same categories in place this year.
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.
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