The Jersey Evening Post is today launching this year’s Pride of Jersey awards to recognise and honour all aspects of community life in the Island.
Following on from last year’s memorable and emotional event at Government House, this year’s awards are aiming to be the biggest and best celebration yet of those Islanders going that extra mile.
Since it started as part of the JEP’s 125th anniversary in 2015, nearly 600 individuals or groups – a selection of whom appear on today’s front page – have been nominated for the work they do to make Jersey such a special place in which to live.
All individuals or groups nominated will feature in the JEP to ensure that they each receive some recognition for the contributions they make. Once the nominations close on Saturday 24 June, members of the public will be invited to vote for their favourite in each of the 12 categories, with the top three in each going forward to the judging panels, which will include the previous year’s winners. Last year over 18,000 public votes were received, ensuring the Pride of Jersey awards remains an awards by the people for the people.
Each category winner is also to receive a prize worth £1,000 from their specially selected category sponsor at this year’s awards ceremony, sponsored by Dandara, in September.
Last year’s event on the lawn of Government House saw the winners join now-retired Lieutenant-Governor General Sir John McColl and his wife at a special Pride of Jersey lunch in their formal dining room. The year before, winners were treated like A-list celebrities and taken for a flight around the Channel Islands on a private jet before being driven home in limousines, following the 2015 event at Aviation Beauport.
The detail of this year’s ceremony is yet to be revealed, but event organiser Carl Walker, deputy editor of the JEP, said it promises to be something just as special. He said: ‘Our ethos has always been to steer away from the traditional black-tie style award ceremonies and, instead, to put an event on that is more relaxed but also very special. We want to invite people to a location that they would not normally get the opportunity to see or experience and this year will be no different.’
He also revealed that former England footballer Graeme Le Saux and singer/songwriter Nerina Pallot have both agreed to host this year’s awards again. ‘Both Graeme and Nerina have hosted our special awards since the outset and they both thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to come home to Jersey and celebrate our community. All that remains now is for our readers to nominate some of the amazing people in Jersey as this is everyone’s chance to say a big thank you,’ added Mr Walker.
Nominate your community hero: Click here
