Residents across Essex are being urged to nominate extraordinary individuals for the 2026 Pride of Essex Awards before entries close next month. The awards, now in their latest edition, feature six categories celebrating those who dedicate their time to helping others. Essex Freemasons are proudly sponsoring the Unsung Hero Award, one of the key categories designed to honor selfless volunteers who often work without recognition.
Categories and Sponsors
The six categories for the 2026 Pride of Essex Awards include: Star of Essex (sponsored by Chelmsford Star Co-op), Child of Courage (sponsored by Susie Cornell & Aiden Mitchell), Team of Pride (sponsored by Essex Life), Community Champion (sponsored by Potters Resorts), Unsung Hero (sponsored by Essex Freemasons), and Inspirational Youth (sponsored by P&A Wood). Each award is supported by local organizations committed to celebrating the best of the county.
Unsung Hero Award: Recognizing Quiet Dedication
The Unsung Hero Award specifically recognizes people whose compassion, kindness, and selfless dedication make a lasting difference, often without ever seeking praise. Previous winner Matt Carr, from Braintree, was recognized for transforming the lives of families with children who have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Through POP Essex, he created a lifeline for hundreds of families and raised more than £75,000 to provide activities, support, and opportunities.
Last year's judges also highly commended four other inspirational local residents. Robert Keenan was praised for his work educating young people about knife crime, while Caroline Fagg was recognized for her years of volunteering supporting vulnerable children through Kids Inspire. Dedication to saving lives across the Dengie area earned volunteer community first responder Brian Oliver a high commendation, alongside Chelmsford chef John Weallens, who spends his evenings providing hot meals to homeless and vulnerable people.
Call for Nominations
David Barton, community engagement lead for Essex Freemasons, said: "Every community has someone who quietly goes above and beyond for others. They may be a volunteer, a carer, a fundraiser, a coach or simply a neighbour who is always there when people need them. They rarely ask for recognition and often go unnoticed, which is exactly why the Unsung Hero Award is so important. Essex Freemasons are proud to sponsor this category and encourage everyone to think about someone who deserves to be recognised."
He added: "Last year's finalists show the incredible impact one person can have, and we know there are many more inspirational people across Essex whose stories deserve to be told."
Key Dates and How to Nominate
Nominations close on Friday, August 14, 2026, with the winners set to be announced at a special ceremony on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at Anglia Ruskin University in Chelmsford. Anyone can submit a nomination by visiting the official website at www.poeawards.org.
