Pride of city honoured
MANCHESTER’S solidarity, bravery and community spirit were honoured at the city’s annual Be Proud awards.
It was an emotional evening, which also remembered the tragic events at the Arena this year.
Tributes were paid to the 22 people who lost their lives and those injured.
Opening the ceremony, the Lord Mayor of Manchester Coun Eddy Newman, who took on the role just five days before the attack, said he could not have been prouder to be in post as the city came together to respond to the atrocity.
“Manchester’s strength in the aftermath of the bombing was everything the Be Proud Awards represent,” he added.
A special recognition award was presented to the emergency services who were first on the scene, running towards danger.
Individuals and groups whose efforts in the aftermath of the bomb touched hearts across the globe were also recognised.
The event was held in the Great Hall at Manchester Town Hall on Friday evening.
Some of the incredible Mancunians who have made an outstanding contribution to the city were also honoured.
Awards included Community Project of the Year, Neighbour of the Year, and Bringing Communities Together.
The people of Wythenshawe scored a hat trick of gongs.
Keleef Pearson took home the trophy for individual Volunteer of the Year for his work with Addy Adventure Playground.
Volunteer-led social community group Grand Day Out – which aims to reduce isolation for people aged 50-plus – was named group Volunteer of the Year.
The Young Achiever of the Year award was won by the Wythenshawe Youth Forum.
The Pride of Manchester award presented to the winner of winners was presented to the Miners Community Arts and Music Centre in Moston.
Run by Louis Beckett and a team of volunteers, the working men’s club has undergone a complete transformation.
In just seven years, it has become a thriving community hub, with a host of entertainment and activities for residents young and old.
It has a cafe, a gallery space, a function room, a 70-seat cinema, a sports room, an internet radio station, a recording studio and a community garden.
Louis, whose venture took the title of Community Project of the Year, said: “We are completely overwhelmed, we were stunned at the first award but then to be considered for this, it’s just incredible.
“I grew up on a working-class council estate, and there was always football and other sports but there was never art or music really, and I’ve always loved art and music, so when we got this building I thought, ‘right, I’m going to do something here.’
“It’s in the middle of a workingclass estate and we can get everyone involved. All those kids who were left in their bedrooms, sitting there drawing, it was something for them, but then they got bigger.
“It’s not just something for them now, it’s for everyone, people from all walks of life, and everyone uses it.”
The town hall’s executive member for neighbourhoods Coun Nigel Murphy said: “Through their desire to help others and their positive, can-do spirit, tonight’s award winners and finalists are all making a massive difference to the places they call home, day in, day out.
“They thoroughly deserve to be recognised as true champions of their communities and the Be Proud awards show just how much we appreciate the way in which they make Manchester a better city for everyone around them.”