Spirit of Manchester Awards

Spirit of manchester 2024 logo

The Spirit of Manchester Awards are a series of awards celebrating and highlighting the excellent work being carried out in Manchester’s voluntary and community sector. The Spirit of Manchester 2024 Awards will be taking place on Thursday 3 October.

Nomination are now closed and the shortlist has been announced. Submissions have been assessed by our judging panel where three individuals/organisations have been shortlisted by the judges for each category. (This excludes the Young Volunteer of the Year Award and the Dr Sylvia Sham Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Sector where an outright winner is chosen in advance by the judges.)

For 2024, we have introduced our newest category, the Community and Business Collaboration Award, to celebrate the VCSE organisations and businesses working together in Manchester to help make a difference in the community. 

Please note: The Young Volunteer of the Year Award was announced in June 2024 in acknowledgement of Volunteers' week. 

Spirit of Manchester 2023 Awards brochure
Find out about all the amazing organisations and individuals that were shortlisted for the Spirit of Manchester Awards 2023. Download our Spirit of Manchester 2023 Awards brochure

Spirit of Manchester 2023 Review
Thank you to everyone who helped support the Spirit of Manchester 2023 and to those who attended the event. Our Spirit of Manchester 2023 review is now available to view by clicking here

Shortlist

Volunteer of the Year

  • Holly Taberner
  • Sammy Minshull
  • Maria Romanenko

Volunteering Team  

  • Caritas Salford
  • Manchester Central Foodbank
  • SHINE

Volunteer Involving Organisation

  • MASH
  • Home-Start Manchester
  • LGBT Foundation

Young Volunteer of the Year (in acknowledgement of Volunteers' Week in June 2024) (Supported by Clyde & Co)

  • Winner: Amelia McCallum

Tackling Inequalities (Supported by Manchester City Council – Making Manchester Fairer)

  • Europia
  • Nurturing Foundations
  • Across Ummah CIC

Inspiring Campaign

  • Lifeshare
  • SNUG
  • Future Directions Green Superheroes

Creative Community Spirit

  • Segment Arts
  • Rain Dance Colour Festival
  • Edge Theatre

Partnership and Collaboration (Supported by Wythenshawe Community Housing Group)

  • Street Engagement Hub Manchester

  • GLL / Better

  • Smart Works & AJ Bell


Trustee/Committee Member of the Year (in acknowledgement of Trustees Week in November 2024)

  • Jane Carroll
  • Colette Cronshow
  • Kotieba Ramadan

Service User Involving Organisation

  • Future Directions CIC
  • Coffee4Craig
  • Gaddum Engagement Team

Social Economy Champion

  • Beth Powell
  • The Old Abbey Tap House
  • She Leads for Legacy

Community Cohesion (Supported by One Manchester)

  • North Manchester Community Partnership
  • Tree of Life Centre
  • Happy Somedays

Community and Business Collaboration (Supported by CityCo)

  • Peninsula Group
  • Cracking Good Food & Microsoft NW Social Impact team
  • Greater Manchester Law Centre & Clyde & Co

The Dr Sylvia Sham Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Voluntary Sector

  • Winner: TBA

Supporters
There are a number of ways you can become a supporter of our Spirit of Manchester Awards and help us celebrate and reward the voluntary and community sector for all their hard work. See more on how to be a supporter.

Spirit of Manchester Awards 2023 Winners and Shortlist

Take a look at the winners from last year’s awards here.

How it works 
Click here for how the process works, how nominations are handled and how all of this happens.