Grand Pride of Sefton Awards to raise funds for two local charities

The 2025 Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards has announced the two charities it is supporting this year.

The annual event takes place at The Grand in Southport on 25th April 2025, honouring inspirational local people and organisations who have done so much to improve our communities in Southport, Bootle, Crosby, Formby, Maghull and across Sefton.

The first two events have raised thousands of pounds for ICU Steps.

Run by former intensive care patients and relatives, this charity aims to improve the care and support available to patients recovering from critical illness during their long recovery.

ICU Steps is the United Kingdom’s only intensive care patient support charity.

The organisation will once again be a beneficiary this year, along with the Southport Strong Together Appeal.

The Appeal was established by the Community Foundation for Merseyside in partnership with Sefton Council and Sefton CVS just 24 hours after the tragedy in Southport on 29th July last year which claimed the lives of three young girls and left several children and adults severely injured.

The Southport Strong Together Appeal provides support to those affected in a range of ways. Help is offered as charitable gifts to those who have lost loved ones, or sustained physical or psychological injuries, and also awarded as grants to local and regional charities providing vital support services to those affected.

The Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards are organised annually by Mikhail Hotel And Leisure Group and Stand Up For Southport with media support from In Demand Radio, with each of the 13 categories sponsored by supportive local businesses.

Funds for the charities on the night are raised through a raffle, and through a silent auction.

Mikhail Hotel And Leisure Group Chairman Andrew Mikhail said:

“I have seen first hand the vital work done by ICU Steps to support people across the country as they recover from life-threatening conditions.

“Mikhail Hotel And Leisure Group has been determined to support the charity as much as we can through a variety of different events in recent years, including through the Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards.

“Everyone in Southport, and beyond, was heartbroken by the horrific tragedy which happened last summer.

“I cannot begin to imagine the huge impact it has had, and continues to have, on all those involved.

“Families, children, parents and others need ongoing support in a variety of ways and the Southport Strong Together Appeal has been doing an excellent job in providing the help required.”

Over 2,000 nominations have been received for this year’s Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards, with nominations now closed.

The 2024 main Pride Of Sefton Awards winner, sponsored by The Grand, was the inspirational Denise Fergus. Denise, whose young son, James Bulger, was kidnapped and murdered in Bootle in 1993, has dedicated her life to operating the James Bulger Memorial Trust to benefit and support young people who are disadvantaged by reason of having become the victims of crime, hatred or bullying.

The Lifetime Achievement Award went to renowned local radio broadcaster John Cooper.

Find more information about the Pride of Sefton awards here.

Find all the latest Sefton news here.