Stoke’s daily newspaper has launched its 15th annual Our Heroes Awards for nominations and this year expects to champion the local shining stars of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“If ever there was a time to honour Our Heroes it is now”, Sentinel and StokeonTrentLive editor Martin Tideswell told the SoE.
The Sentinel’s annual community awards scheme was launched in 2006, with this year’s accolades recognising unsung heroes including Community Group of the Year, Good Neighbour, Hero of the NHS and the People First Award.
The Sentinel and its online counterpart StokeonTrentLive will publish stories about the nominees throughout May to the end of July, to be followed by gala awards ceremony at a future date.
The Sentinel editor added he hoped the awards ceremony will be the perfect opportunity for the newspaper and publishing industry to highlight that through these unprecedented times so many people and organisations thought of others.
“We launched the Our Heroes Awards in 2006 and over the last 15 years we have told more than 1,500 positive stories which reflect the inspirational, selfless and courageous individuals who live in our patch here in North Staffordshire and South Cheshire,” said Martin Tideswell.
The publication saw no reason to change their tradition of the annual awards, despite the new pressures put upon the paper’s journalists as a result of the pandemic.
“Our journalists – depleted by furlough arrangements, adapting to new roles and working around the clock to serve our readers have been absolutely inundated with inspiring stories of local people and organisations doing extraordinary things. It has been truly humbling.
“Doubtless the efforts of individuals during the pandemic will feature strongly this year as we have dedicated categories for NHS staff, education stars, emergency services and armed forces personnel, carers, community groups and good neighbours.
Tideswell added, “The breadth of categories means we are confident we can reflect all aspects of local life and remind people that there is much to look forward to and be proud of.”
To find out more about making a nomination if you are based in North Staffordshire and South Cheshire, click here.
