Welcome to the Your Heroes Awards 2026 – the 20th anniversary of this much-loved community campaign celebrating the unsung heroes of Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.
Your Heroes is sponsored by Lucideon, Drayton Beaumont, Sempar, Woolcool, PREM Management, Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, The Potteries Educational Trust, KMF and Shepherd PR – and is organised at 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 Foundation, World of Wedgwood, Ambassador Theatre Group, Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID, Newcastle-under-Lyme BID, Cross Rhythms City Radio and Alton Towers.
Whether it’s a volunteer, a young achiever, a carer or a community group….the awards acknowledge the everyday acts of kindness, bravery and dedication that might otherwise go unnoticed. This celebration strengthens community pride and reminds us that the spirit of Staffordshire is defined by the contributions of its people.
Categories are as follows:
- Future Star
- Child of Courage
- 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 this website and promoted on social media and through local media until the closing date in September 2026.
The judging panel then meets to choose the winners ahead of a star-studded, black tie dinner which will take place at the Double Tree by Hilton Stoke-on-Trent (formerly the Moat House Hotel, Festival Park).
Celebrities that have attended recently include 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, boxer Nathan Heaney, playwright Deb McAndrew and numerous sporting stars and civic dignitaries have again kindly pledged their support for Your Heroes.
Martin Tideswell, Director of Commercial Strategy at University of Staffordshire, 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!”