Nominate 'unsung champions' in new city awards

A city's "unsung champions" are set to be honoured through a new awards scheme.

Manchester City Council has launched the inaugural Best of Manchester Awards, with the aim of recognising "the people, groups and organisations who go that extra mile to help Manchester and those who call it home".

The 10 award categories include neighbourhood pride, community action on climate change and community innovator.

Council leader Bev Craig said: "We want to give people an opportunity to celebrate the people who do the most for us, yet never ask for anything return, or make a fuss, and who, more than anyone, deserve to have their time in the limelight.

She said Manchester was "a city where every single day the lives of our residents are made better by countless acts of selflessness".

"Over the course of our time here we all will have come across that person or that group who makes life a better place, who makes the community we live in feel like home, or the person who always puts others first," she added.

"I'm honoured to be able to kick start the nomination process and I'm determined we celebrate the people who truly are the best of Manchester."

Nominations, which can be made on the council's website, close on Sunday 12 July, with the Lord Mayor and council leader holding celebration events for the nominees in September.

The finalists from each category will then be invited to the Best of Manchester Awards on Friday 23 October.

The full list of categories are:

Pride in our neighbourhoodCommunity action on climate changeChampioning skills and confidence for workKeeping our neighbourhoods safeSupporting healthier, happier communitiesBringing communities togetherCommunity innovator awardBusiness and communities working togetherMaking a differenceBest of neighbourhood award

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.