Manchester residents have the chance to give their community’s unsung heroes some deserved recognition as nominations open for the annual Be Proud Awards.
Each year Manchester City Council hosts an awards ceremony to celebrate the local individuals, community groups, organisations, and businesses that make a difference to the lives of others in the city.
The Be Proud Awards are a chance for extraordinary everyday people to have their work recognised during a night of glitz and glamour.
All the finalists will be invited to an awards ceremony and gala dinner at The Hilton, Manchester, in June 2025.
Awards are available in the following categories:
- Neighbourhood action on climate change
- Supporting those affected by poverty
- Increasing skills, education and employability
- Making our neighbourhoods safer
- Supporting health and wellbeing
- Promoting equality and diversity
- Making our neighbourhoods cleaner and greener
- Creative communities
- Businesses supporting the community
The Pride of Manchester award is then given to the overall winner across all the categories.
Last year’s Pride of Manchester was Shakar Hussain, chair of Rainbow Surprise in north Manchester.
After running his charity for 13 years, alongside his wife Shabnam, Shakar has been instrumental in ensuring his community continues to thrive amid the cost-of-living crisis. He provides regular food drives, community fridges and a local shop for everyone to access, while also going the extra mile to collect people himself to attend events organised by Rainbow Surprise.
Since experiencing a period of homelessness himself, Shakar knows firsthand what it means to be in need and how the small, everyday contributions of a few can be life changing. The charity provides barbers to cut children’s hair for free at the beginning of term and helps families to buy new school uniforms for local pupils.
You can nominate here: www.manchester.gov.uk/beproud
Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon said: “These awards are our opportunity to bring people from across our great city together to celebrate the incredible contributions our local heroes and community champions make to Manchester.
“These individuals and local community groups are the background of our neighbourhoods. They give back to Manchester in spades and the Be Proud awards shine a light on those that go above and beyond to help their community thrive.
“This is your chance to celebrate that inspirational person or group that deserves to be recognised for what they do for their neighbours. If you know someone who that gives their all for their local area, please celebrate them with a nomination for the Be Proud Awards – and let them know that their hard work is seen and appreciated.”
