Pride of Stevenage Awards winners announced
Stevenage heroes were honoured virtually at this year’s Pride of Stevenage Awards, recognising the good work of individuals and businesses that have made a difference during the pandemic.
The winners of the Pride of Stevenage Awards 2020 are:
Covid lockdown hero
Sophie Ellis, Holiday Inn Express manager who led a team of employees who helped the homeless during lockdown.
Best company
Stevenage Football Club and Foundation for supporting the community.
Best team Covid support
Barbara Howard, Haven First continuing to offer important services for those in need.
Best Covid community hero
Kianna Moloney, for being an example of young people thinking of others and her neighbours.
Best Covid community support
Sue McIndoe, Leyden House Day Centre, for its creative approach to taking care of those with disabilities and special needs.
Best Covid healthcare hero / heroes
Stevenage District Nursing team.
Best Covid adaptable business
Oli Khan, Surma Takeaway who changed the focus of his business so the staff worked to feed key workers and those struggling to eat during the height of the pandemic.
Judges’ Special Award
Lister Hospital, who continue to do an amazing job looking after the health, wellbeing and lives of the people of Stevenage.
The winners were chosen by a panel of judges, chaired by Leader of the Council, Councillor Sharon Taylor. This year’s awards were held virtually for the first time on Saturday 24 October and live streamed from the council’s YouTube channel: youtube.com/user/SBCComms. The host for the evening was SG1 Sports Scene radio presenter and Stevenage FC match day announcer, Jay Drackford.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Sharon Taylor, said: “The Pride of Stevenage Awards allow us to celebrate and pay tribute to individuals and businesses in our town who have made a difference to the lives of others during what has been a difficult year for all of us.
“Picking the winners wasn’t easy as we had so many worthy nominations, which really showed the best of Stevenage and makes me proud of our amazing town and its people. I would like to thank each of our winners for the contributions they have all made that have made a difference to someone else during such a difficult time.
“I’d also like to thank this year’s sponsors, PSW Consulting, and the judges for giving up their time to choose our winners – Matthew Ford, PSW Building Consultancy; Chief Inspector Simon Tabert, Stevenage Police; Caroline Haskins, Stevenage Community Trust; Jay Drackford, MC for Pride of Stevenage Awards 2020, and Alissa Crew, Youth Mayor.”