Your Heroes Awards

Find out more

Nominate Your Hero

Place your nominations online for hero of the year

Nominate your hero

Help us to honour Your Heroes!

The Your Heroes Awards are an annual, much-loved Staffordshire event celebrating the amazing, unsung heroes who make significant contributions to their communities within our county.

The awards celebrate the remarkable individuals and groups who make an outstanding difference across Staffordshire. We emphasise the word Your as this highlights these awards belonging to the community – it is the people of Staffordshire who nominate, recognise, and honour their own local heroes.

Your Heroes is sponsored by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, GivEnergy, Woolcool, PREM Management, The Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, The City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College, Shepherd PR – and is organised at the University of Staffordshire.

We are also immensely grateful for the support of businesses and organisations including Port Vale FC, Port Vale Foundation, Stoke City FC, Stoke City Community Trust, World of Wedgwood, Ambassador Theatre Group, Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID, Newcastle-under-Lyme BID, Cross Rhythms City Radio, KMF, and Alton Towers.

The Your Heroes campaign recognises Children of Courage; Future Stars; Charity Champions/Volunteers; Community Groups; NHS Heroes; Inspirations in Education; Carers; Uniformed Heroes; Individuals and organisations demonstrating Civic Pride; and Sporting Icons.

Judges

Find out more about our Judges

Nominate

Nominate your hero

“University of Staffordshire has been a long-time supporter of the Heroes Awards and now organises this celebration, sponsored by a number of the region’s leading businesses and organisations. We shine a light on 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.”

Professor Martin Jones, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, University of Staffordshire

“The Your Heroes Awards campaign 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. I am grateful to the sponsors and supporting partners who make Your Heroes possible."

"Ain’t no party like a Your Heroes party!”

Martin Tideswell, Director of Commercial Strategy, University of Staffordshire

Inspiration in Education nomination – Amy Anderson, Shelly Birnie, Gemma Lyons and Sammy Brock

Teachers at a special school have been praised by the mum of one of their pupils for the way they’ve helped with a transition to new school premises. Amy Anderson, Shelly Birnie, Gemma Lyons and Sammy Brock, who…

15 Jul 2025

Future Star nomination – Kayleigh Simm

Kayleigh Simm is the only female in her apprentice cohort at Newcastle-based KMF - but that does not stop her drive and passion for engineering shining through. Her employers say she has made “absolutely outstanding progress” in the…

15 Jul 2025

Carer of the Year nomination – Glynn and Ann O’Donnell

Glynn and Ann O’Donnell have battled ill health to provide a loving home to 37 youngsters over the past quarter of a century. The Biddulph couple, aged 74 and 66, also have three of their own children. Ann…

04 Jul 2025

Community Group of the Year nomination – Lichfield District City of Sanctuary

A Lichfield charity supported around 500 vulnerable people, predominantly asylum seekers and refugees, last year. Lichfield District City of Sanctuary was established after a community meeting six years ago, where a small group of the city’s residents committed…

Your Heroes Awards - Help us to honour Your Heroes!