They're the ones who turn up early, stay late, check in on neighbours, organise the raffle, run the group, unlock the hall, make the calls, and never expect applause. They do it because someone has to.
Our annual Unsung Heroes Awards are an opportunity for the district to recognise those volunteers who hold our communities together.
These awards exist for the people who rarely see their names in print. The individuals and teams whose impact is measured in small acts of kindness that ripple outwards. From the Five Towns to SESKU and across the wider Wakefield District, volunteers are shaping stronger, more connected communities every single day. Every year, we ask the public to nominate the people they think deserve the title of 'Unsung Hero'.
In 2026, nine fantastic finalists were selected and received some well-deserved recognition. The awards ceremony took place on 15th October 2026 at Theatre Royal Wakefield. You can read more about the event here and learn about our 2026 finalists here.
The event features short films telling the stories of our finalists and culminates in the presentation of two additional awards: the People’s Choice Award, voted for by the public, and the Overall Winner, selected by the judging panel.
Lisa Milburn, Foundation Director, said: ‘These awards matter because volunteers matter. So much of what makes our district strong happens under the radar. The Foundation’s Unsung Heroes Awards gives us the chance to say thank you to local champions, publicly and properly.’
