The city has handed out the first ever set of Proud Preston awards to people who are volunteering, striving and working hard each day doing often extraordinary things.
More than 200 people from across Preston’s civic, community, charity and business sector were packed into the Barton Manor Hotel for the awards ceremony.
Presented by John ‘Gilly’ Gillmore and Neetal Parekh it was a joyous celebration of organisations and people who make Preston the city it is.
Read more: See all the live updates from the Proud Preston Awards as they happened
Winners told their stories on stage when collecting their awards – speaking about overcoming adversity, tackling medical conditions and wanting to bring people together to stay healthy and much more too.
Below is the full list of winners along with a little bit about them too.
Guy Topping – Lifetime Hero winner at the Proud Preston Awards 2026 – Sponsored by Preston Council
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.
Annie Wynn BEM – Proud Preston Award winner at the Proud Preston Awards 2026
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.
Paisley Training And Consultancy – Business in the Community Award winner at the Proud Preston Awards 2026 – sponsored by UK Car Line
Paisley Training and Consultancy 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.
Keita Ferguson – Carer of the Year winner at the Proud Preston Awards 2026
Keita is an amazing young lady who makes the care world a better place
Victoria Danson – Active Inspiration Award winner at the Proud Preston Awards 2026
Victoria has been an inspiration to others after having life saving surgery and showing there is life after an IBD diagnosis and stoma surgery. Educating on invisible illness despite now living with cancer.
Mr John Hankin – Education Hero winner at the Proud Preston Awards 2026
John Hankin is the Head Teacher at Corpus Christi. He has been the catalyst for, and has overseen, the unprecedented improvement and success enjoyed by the School in recent times.
Grace Gudgeon – Volunteer of the Year winner at the Proud Preston Awards 2026
Grace Gudgeon 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.
Gemma Roberts – Charity Hero of the Year winner at the Proud Preston Awards 2026 – Sponsored by Global Ardour
Gemma Roberts 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.
Annie Wynn BEM – Environmental Hero of the Year winner at the Proud Preston Awards 2026 – Sponsored by Global Ardour
Annie Wynn is the director of Let’s Grow Preston which encourages and enables repurposing, upcycling and recycling, reduces food waste and creates a sustainable and supportive system across Preston.
Mel Close – Inclusive Leadership Award winner at the Proud Preston Awards 2026
Mel is a transformative CEO and Councillor who champions intersectional equity spearheading the 2025 Community Hub to organise Disability Pride, Mel empowers marginalised voices through dedicated, lifelong inclusive Leadership.
Andrew Sumner – Arts & Culture Hero of the Year winner at the Proud Preston Awards 2026 – Sponsored by Animate Preston
Andrew who was born and based in Preston, has been a professional theatre practitioner for 25 years starting in a local youth theatre; now he owns his own theatre business in Preston, specialising in theatre in education.
Bounce Back Netball – Community Initiative of the Year winner at the Proud Preston Awards 2026
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.
Grace Gudgeon – Inspirational Young Leader winner at the Proud Preston Awards 2026
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.
You can see the full list of finalists and also watch as they are announced in the video below or on our YouTube channel.
Blog Preston is proud to have been a partner in the event, which was a collaboration between Lancashire Post (Iconic Media), Preston City Council and Central Radio.
And received the backing of sponsors Animate, Preston Partnership, Global Ardour, Hive Land & Planning, CWP (Creativity Works Preston), UK Car Line, Harrison Drury Solicitors and Cotton Court.
The charity partner for the awards was the Vault Youth Zone which raffle proceeds on the night went to with £1,600 raised and pledges made by attendees going to support the new facility for young people in the heart of Preston.
We would like to say well done to every single finalist and to all the winners too. As Mayor of Preston councillor Sue Whittam said: “Just by being in this room, you’re a winner – all of you.”
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