It is heartening to see that our town will again come together for the 13th annual Proud of Barnsley awards.
These awards provide us with a precious opportunity to pause, reflect, and acknowledge the outstanding contributions of exceptional people in our town.
As a local MP, it is a privilege to attend local events and witness the incredible stories of selflessness, dedication, and determination that Proud of Barnsley nominees display first-hand.
Whether it’s going above and beyond to support a good cause like Rachael Addy who works at Deangate Care Home who has conquered her fear of flying and skydived to raise funds for the home, or being a sporting inspiration like Calvin Betton who is coaching some of the world’s best tennis players, or simply always being there for our young people and their families like Ron and Barbara Cooper who have been running playgroups for over 15 years in Gawber.
The very best of our community is showcased at these awards.
In honouring our local heroes, we not only recognise their achievements in a spectacular evening with live entertainment and an electric atmosphere, we also reaffirm our dedication to the values on display and that define us as a town - kindness, generosity and unity.
When we first set up the Proud of Barnsley awards back in 2012, I hoped that we could come together and celebrate these values and the spirit of people across our borough. I am proud to say, that more than a decade on, we are still going strong and championing the inspirational efforts and spirit of local people.
Never has that spirit mattered more than over the last few years. But despite the challenges we face, the people of Barnsley continue to do remarkable things to support one another and champion excellent causes.
Being recognised for the incredible - and often unseen - work is incredibly important and I want to take the opportunity to thank the team at the Barnsley Chronicle, staff at the Metrodome and the technical team who ensure that everything goes off without a hitch and for their work ensuring that these awards continue to happen.
I also want to pay a special thanks to the sponsors of this year’s event without whom the Proud of Barnsley awards whom, despite how tough times are for our businesses, have dug deep and generously donated to the awards.
As we come together for an incredible evening of celebration, let us continue to cheer on our local heroes on and support the work they do to make our town the best it can be.
