Entries now open for Young Heroes Awards 2024

Staffordshire University has announced the return of a campaign which highlights the unsung heroes across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.

Your Heroes is sponsored by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, GivEnergy and Woolcool and it is organised by Staffordshire University.

The long-running awards campaign is backed by numerous local businesses and organisations including Stoke City FC, Port Vale FC, Stoke City Community Trust, Port Vale Foundation, World of Wedgwood, Alton Towers, The Regent Theatre and Victoria Hall, Netbiz and media partner Cross Rhythms City Radio.

The Your Heroes campaign recognises children, future stars, sporting icons, charity champions, volunteers, community groups, healthcare and uniformed heroes, carers, inspirational educators, individuals and organisations demonstrating Civic Pride.

Categories include:

• Child of Courage
• Future Star
• Charity Champion/Volunteer of the Year
• Community Group of the Year
• NHS Hero
• Inspiration in Education Award
• Carer of the Year
• Uniformed Hero
• Civic Pride Award
• Sporting Icon

Nominations are submitted via the Your Heroes Awards website until the closing date on Monday 23 September.

The judging panel then meets to choose the winners ahead of a star-studded, black tie dinner for 250+ guests which will take place at the Double Tree by Hilton Stoke-on-Trent on Thursday 28 November, 2024.

Celebrities including Oscar-winning actress Rachel Shenton, stage star Jonathan Wilkes, comedian and TV presenter Nick Hancock, master potter and ‘The Great Pottery Throw Down judge Keith Brymer-Jones, playwright Deb McAndrew and numerous sporting stars and civic dignitaries have again kindly pledged their support for Your Heroes.

Councillor Jane Ashworth OBE, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “It’s a privilege to be involved in the Your Heroes Awards once again this year. Stoke-on-Trent and the wider North Staffordshire area have so many brave and selfless people who put others first. It is only right that we recognise and give our heartfelt thanks to these unsung heroes.

“Through their selflessness, they help to make Stoke-on-Trent the warmest and friendliest of cities. We can all draw inspiration from and take pride in the amazing stories uncovered by the Your Heroes Awards.”

Professor Martin Jones, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Staffordshire University, said: “Staffordshire University has been a longtime supporter of the Heroes Awards and now organises this celebration, sponsored by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and two of the region’s leading businesses, of some of the outstanding people living, working and studying in our communities.

“As a Civic University committed to improving the quality of life of people living within the county and the wider region, we hope to engage with the winners and see how we can help them on their personal journey or work with them to bring about continued improvements for our communities.”

Martin Tideswell, Director of Communities and Commercial Engagement at Staffordshire University will Chair the Your Heroes judging panel and host the awards ceremony.

He said: “The Your Heroes Awards campaign is well-established and the awards dinner is one of the most important events on the Civic calendar because it celebrates the people and organisations that are, quite genuinely, the glue which bind our communities together.

“We are proud to share the stories of these humbling, unassuming individuals and groups – and highlight what a remarkable, friendly and inspiring place we live in. Ain’t no party like a Your Heroes party!”

Pictured: Jazmin Sawyers presents the Uniformed Hero award to PC Adele Thompson and PC Hollie Morris