The inspirational Mancunians honoured in annual awards who are city's real unsung heroes

Manchester’s Be Proud Awards ceremony took place on Friday, celebrating the unsung heroes making a difference in their communities. 

Organised by Manchester City Council, the awards champion volunteers and organisations working in all aspects of community life, including health and wellbeing, the environment, poverty, diversity and equality, employment and the arts. 

There are 10 categories in total, but the most prestigious award of the evening is the Pride of Manchester Award, which recognises exceptional contributions to the local community. The winner of the top prize this year was Shakar Hussain, chair of Rainbow Surprise. All the nominees have been put forward by members of the public. 

Shakar has been running the Rainbow Surprise charity alongside his Shabnam. They organise regular food drives, community fridges and a local shop based at Crumpsall Community Hall. They also provided hundreds of food parcels for people during the pandemic. 

As well as the food bank, Rainbow Surprise also provides other services, such as free start of term haircuts for children and help with sourcing school uniforms. Shakar has also been known to personally collect people to make sure that whoever wants to attend the events is able to do so. 

Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon, Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods said: “Every year, it’s an honour and a privilege to welcome back the Be Proud Awards which recognise the tireless work and dedication so many Mancunians pour into their community groups, voluntary efforts and neighbourhoods that continue to make our brilliant city even better.

“These unsung heroes who have been honoured represent through and through what Manchester stands for: fairness, diversity and treating each other as true neighbours. I want to offer my congratulations to the fantastic winners who took away an award and to all the groups who received a nomination –  every effort made in our city to make it bigger and better for everyone means that we are all winners tonight.”

The full list of winners

• Pride of Manchester  – Shakar Hussain, Chair of Rainbow Surprise
• Taking Neighbourhood Climate Action – Shaeda Aziz -Shaeda’s Project: Let’s Go Green 
• Helping to Tackle Poverty –  Shakar Hussain - Rainbow Surprise
• Increasing Skills and Employment Choices – Cup and Cake Café
• Creating Safer Neighbourhoods – Jeannine Burke 
• Supporting Health and Wellbeing – Angels United 
• Promoting Equality and Diversity – The Space Group
• Creating Greener and Cleaner Neighbourhoods – Mersey Bank Garden Group 
• Creativity in Neighbourhoods – Lubna Tahir 
• Business in the Community – The Pavillion Alexandra Park