And the winners are.. Proud Preston Awards 2026

The Lancashire Post, in partnership with headline sponsor Preston City Council, hosted the first ever Proud Preston Awards at the Barton Manor Hotel and it was certainly a night to remember. Working alongside media partners Blog Preston and Central Radio, the city's unsung heroes and organisations were lauded for their untiring work which puts Preston on the map.

The event, by broadcast veteran and former BBC Radio ’s John Gillmore alongside BBC broadcaster Neetal Parekh, began with performances from My Stage Company, Preston, cheer team and talented young vocalist Thea Baah. Next, guests enjoyed a slap up three course meal, followed by a highly entertaining raffle - you had to be there - which raised a whopping £1,600 for Vault Youth Zone.

Before the awards began, Nicola Adam, editor in chief at Iconic Media North West and Lancashire Post editor, said: “Like so many of you I live in, work, and care very much about Preston and nothing sums up that feeling as much as the phrase Proud Preston. Its first recorded use was by historian and churchman Edward Calamy in the early 18th century when he called it ‘a pretty town with an abundance of gentry in it, commonly called Proud Preston.’

“Several centuries later, the people of the city and its surrounding areas still define the essence of Preston and today, we shine a light on those who epitomise just that. In a world where it is easy to be selfish or complacent, you have risen your head above the parapet and deserve to be celebrated. This is the Oscars of Preston.”

The awards ceremony began with the Inspirational Young Leader category, presented by the LEP’s Stuart Mulrooney to 24-year-old Grace Gudgeon, founder of Girls who walk. Remarkably, Grace later became a double winner, scooping Charity Hero of the year, transforming the city’s domestic abuse support. She said: “My partners said he hoped I wouldn’t win or he’d have to put the shelves up!”

Community Initiative of the year was won by Bounce Back Netball. “We began after Covid when we realised women in Preston were not getting the sporting opportunities and physical and mental health was suffering. Netball is a platform, a community and it’s all about empowering women and creating equality.”

Other winners on the night included Andrew Sumner, who became Arts and culture hero of the year, a category sponsored by Animate and presented by Preston Council’s Valerie Wise. The professional theatre practitioner took the opportunity to highlight the shortage of funding for the arts. He said: “I wasn’t expecting to win! I work in education with theatre and arts and we don’t get a lot of funding. We need to try and work harder to give young people opportunities.”

Environmental hero of the year, Annie Wynn BEM, founded Let’s Grow Preston. Accepting her award, she said: “ We’ve done a lot but we can’t do what we do without being collaborative.” She later made it a double, winning the Proud Preston Award for showing how civic pride bring belonging and saves lives.

A very popular winner was Mel Close, who was told by John ‘Gilly’ Gilmore “You are one of the hardest working people in Preston.” Mel, who amongst her other many achievements spearheaded the 2025 Community Hub to organise disability pride, scooped the Inclusive Leadership Award. She said:“ I wasn’t born a leader. I’m here tonight and have been made a leader by the people I’ve known, I’ve grown up with, my family, colleagues and friends. I I have known you for a a lifetime or for a couple of minutes, I have not done this without learning from you. To all of those people who said I couldn’t do it I say - this girl can.”

Education hero of the year was John Hankin, head teacher at Corpus Christi high school, who was lauded for the being the catalyst of ‘unprecedented’ change. He said: “I couldn’t do it without the staff - this is an award for our school.”

The final award of the night was the Lifetime Hero award, presented by Preston Mayor Councillor Sue Whittam to business leader Guy Topping.

READ MORE: Here are 15 pictures from last night’s event

Full list of winners:

• Grace Gudgeon - Inspirational Young Leader: Grace is a 24-year-old community leader who founded Girls Who Walk Preston, creating inclusive, safe spaces that empower women’s wellbeing, connection and confidence across the city.
• Bounce Back Netball - Community Initiative of the Year: Bounce Back Netball transforms women’s sport in Preston. Engaging over 800 women in accessible netball, it promotes wellbeing, builds friendships, celebrates achievements and strengthens connections in the community.
• Andrew Sumner - Arts & Culture Hero of the Year: Born and based in Preston, Professional theatre practitioner for 25 years starting in a local youth theatre. He now owns his own theatre business in Preston, specialising in theatre in education.
• Mel Close - Inclusive Leadership Award: Mel is a transformative CEO and Councillor who champions intersectional equity spearheading the 2025 Community Hub to organise Disability Pride, Mel empowers marginalized voices through dedicated, lifelong inclusive Leadership.
• Annie Wynn BEM - Environmental Hero of the Year: Let’s Grow Preston encourages and enables repurposing, upcycling and recycling, reduces food waste and creates a sustainable and supportive system across Preston.
• Gemma Roberts - Charity Hero of the Year: Gemma has transformed Preston’s domestic abuse support in under a year, pioneering inclusive services, cross-agency collaboration and community advocacy to keep survivors safe and elevate VAWG issues locally.
• Grace Gudgeon - Volunteer of the Year. A second win for Grace! She is a dedicated volunteer who, alongside full-time work, founded Girls Who Walk Preston, giving her time freely to create safe, inclusive spaces that support women’s wellbeing and connection.
• John Hankin - Education Hero. John ( or Mr Hankin to you students) is the Head Teacher at Corpus Christi where he has been the catalyst for and overseen the unprecedented improvement and success enjoyed by the school in recent times.
• Victoria Danson - Active Inspiration Award: An inspiration to others after having life saving surgery and showing there is life after an IBD diagnosis and stoma surgery. She educated others on invisible illness despite now living with cancer.
• Keita Ferguson - Carer of the Year: Keita is an amazing young lady who makes the care world a better place
• Paisley Training And Consultancy - Business in the Community Award: Supports Preston’s adult social care providers through expert policies, training and consultancy, helping local care services deliver safe, high quality, compliant care for the community.
• Annie Wynn BEM - Proud Preston Award: Through values-led leadership and community horticulture, Annie Wynn and Let’s Grow Preston transform green spaces into lifelines, improving wellbeing, restoring belonging, and showing how civic pride changes lives.
• Guy Topping is our  Lifetime Hero: Guy is a highly respected business leader whose career spans more than 35 years of sustained commitment to Preston, Lancashire, and the wider North-West.

Thankyou to all our sponsors as this event would not have gone ahead without them. They are Preston City Council, UK Car Line vehicle leasing, Animate, Cotton Court, Global Ardour Recycling Limited, CWP (Creativity Works Preston) , Harrison Drury Solicitors, Preston Partnership, Vault: An OnSide youth zone, and Hive Land and Planning.

• Congratulations to all, Preston is extremely proud! There will be a special celebratory supplement with all the pictures and winners from the night in the Lancashire Post newspaper on April 2 - and watch out for further coverage here on the website.