This year the 2023 Be Proud Awards were held at the Midland Hotel celebrating the best of Manchester's many volunteers and local advocates.
The council's annual awards help thank the extraordinary individuals and groups for their hard work in helping others and making a real difference in their communities.
From celebrating those helping with the cost-of-living crisis, to the special recognition of people aiming to create safer neighbourhoods, and the community's initiatives in promoting equality and diversity, the individuals and groups were nominated and awarded across 10 different categories.
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The three and four finalists in each category were invited to the prestigious gala dinner on Friday, March 3, where the winners received their trophies - and one winner was handed the illustrious title of overall Pride of Manchester.
The Lord Mayor of Manchester Donna Ludford attended the event with the sponsors awarding nominees on stage presented by Neil Fairlamb and Shefali Kapoor and entertainment from OKHAI.
The 2023 Pride of Manchester Award was handed to Kelly Brown who set up Mero's World Foundation, which has seen her raise money to install 20 bleed cabinets (a kit for public use in the event of a stabbing or any other incident which causes blood loss) across Manchester.
Kelly devotes the foundation to the memory of her son Rhamero and through group discussions, short films, and testimonies, has illustrated the dangers of carrying knives and helped prevent other families from going through what she has endured.
Kelly has also created and runs a local youth hub, helping to keep young people off the streets in the evenings and going into schools to talk about the horrors of knife crime.
A Supporting Health and Wellbeing award was handed to Mark Sproston for his Project 23 mental health group.
When Mark lost his brother to suicide, while facing challenges of his own, he set up the UK-wide group project involving building a £40,000 gym in his back garden - free of charge for anyone - to support people experiencing poor mental health.
Mark told the Manchester Evening News: "After losing my brother to suicide I'd closed myself away from everyone and drank excessive alcohol to cope. Until one day, I decided this needed to change - I wanted to be the 'man that broke the mould'.
"The gym was available for anyone and offers a place for people who may need support. We help people by referring them to the right professionals and remaining by their side throughout their recovery. I'd thought we'd get around 13 people joining, but the group now has over 1,000 members."
Andrew Parkinson, a member of Project 23, said: "I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for Mark. He offered to help me through a time I was struggling and continued to be my crutch, and with this group, he offers the same support by providing people with a space to talk.
"Mark is very self-giving and he has always put everyone before himself - because of him this project has gone from a chat room to a community."
Joseph Hartley and Shau Mei Ya were overwhelmed to have received the Creating Greener and Cleaner Neighbourhoods Award for their group Moston Social Clean Ups. The group exists to clean the environment and remove tons of fly-tipping and litter from areas in Moston while bringing the community together to share conversations.
"We started within the Covid-19 era and wanted to bring together the strong African, Polish, and Moston indigenous cultures here, and this clean-up group's main emphasis is to chat and hopefully break down any preconceptions," Joseph told the Manchester Evening News.
Shau Mei said: "It was unexpected winning that award - we believed a more notable group would have been nominated and awarded but it was an exceptionally proud moment for everyone here tonight who work hard for the community with no notoriety."
In 2017, Chloe Barlow and Joshua Wilkinson created digital art and theatre productions to engage with schools, older people and homeless centres to bring together local knowledge and enhance the area's identity. Their many art illustrations, film premieres and theatre shows won them the Creativity in Neighbourhoods Award.
"We make theatre shows and tour to non-traditional venues like schools, community centres, youth centres, libraries, any unusual spaces that we believe deserves some creativity. These public speaking and performances are a point of discussion to bring people together and bridging the sense of community," Joshua told the Manchester Evening News.
Demereece Green, 19, attended the award ceremony with the pair and has worked with them since he was 15 years old, writing poetry and performing for the people of Moston to help tell their stories and explore the community.
Chloe Barlow, 26, said: "We were completely shocked to win -we'd almost written it off completely. We were up against brilliant volunteers in the community so to get this award is a huge achievement for us and what we do."
Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon, Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods, said: “These awards are a wonderful way to remind the city’s community groups, volunteers, inspirational neighbours, and local heroes just how brilliant they are.
“The contribution made to the city by our residents cannot be underestimated. The people of Manchester make this city what it is and it’s important that we can celebrate those individuals and groups who go out of their way to be the backbone of their communities.
“A huge congratulations to everyone who took away an award and to all the groups who received a nomination – you are all winners in our eyes and you deserve our thanks.”
Winners of the Be Proud Awards 2023:
Pride of Manchester - Kelly Brown from Mero's World Foundation
Kelly's devotion has seen her raise money to install 20 bleed cabinets (a kit for public use in the event of a stabbing or any other incident that causes blood loss) across Manchester.
Sponsored by Manchester Evening News.
Taking Neighbourhood Climate Action - Ardwick Climate Action Group
The group's work includes monitoring local pollution levels to gather information on effective interventions and activities, including rewilding and habitat renewal, and planting on green spaces all over Ardwick.
Sponsored by Redgate.
Helping to Tackle Poverty - Perrys Pantry Foodbank
Perry's Pantry support people across south and central Manchester, including the homeless and those on low incomes or not in work. They have especially responded to the challenges of the pandemic by providing food parcels to everyone in need of help.
Sponsored by One Manchester.
Increasing Skills and Employment Choices - Better We CIC- Tahera Khanam
Better We CIC was set up in 2021 by Tahera to empower, guide, and provide employment advice to residents from a range of backgrounds and cultures in Longsight who often feel disconnected. It helps to improve physical health and wellbeing by growing confidence and self-esteem.
Sponsored by Southway Housing Trust.
Creating Safer Neighbourhoods - Kelly Brown, Mero’s World Foundation
Kelly has installed 20 bleed cabinets across Manchester, including running a local youth hub, which helps to keep young people off the streets in the evenings, and through group discussions and public speaking illustrates the dangers of knife crime.
Sponsored by Wythenshawe Forum.
Supporting Health and Wellbeing - Mark Sproston
When Mark lost a family member to suicide, while facing challenges of his own, he set up the UK-wide help group Project 23 to support people experiencing poor mental health. He supports people by referring them to the right professionals, and remaining by their side throughout recovery.
Sponsored by MCRActive.
Promoting Equality and Diversity - Rainbow Haven Volunteers
Formed as a project supporting asylum seekers in Manchester, Rainbow Haven for the last 20 years has continually provided a place of support, and opportunity and welcomes refugees through weekly drop-in sessions, English lessons, guidance and advice.
Sponsored by Wythenshawe Community Housing Group.
Creating Greener and Cleaner Neighbourhoods - Moston Social Clean Ups
Joe and Shau Mei have set up a group to clean the environment and remove tons of fly-tipping and litter from the streets and green areas of Moston. This has allowed the community to share their pressures, experiences, and problems while having a positive effect on their environment.
Sponsored by Biffa.
Creativity in Neighbourhoods - Malandra Jacks Theatre Company
Chloe and Josh create digital art and theatre productions to engage with schools, older people and homeless centres to bring together local knowledge and enhance the area's sense of identity.
Sponsored by Rowlinson Construction Ltd.
Business in the Community – The Lakeside Café-Marise Lindsey
Marise Lindsey is an active member of the lakeside Community CIC and has provided support for people during the pandemic and continues to support individuals during the cost-of-living crisis. The café provides a lifeline for people of all ages to meet up and chat, connect, and take health walks.
Sponsored by MK Illuminations.
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