Announcing the Journalists’ Charity Unsung heroes campaign

The Journalists’ Charity is asking local and regional papers to help identify the local heroes who deserve recognition for the way they have gone the extra mile during the last year.

On June 12^th 2021 it will be 500 days since the first case of COVID-19 was diagnosed in the UK.

The most amazing icon to emerge, Captain Sir Tom Moore, is no longer with us but as we all know there are many thousands of unsung heroes, from all walks of life, who have gone beyond their call of duty to help others in this pandemic.

They may have been raising spirits more than raising money, they may have been risking their own health and life to protect and save others, and their contributions may have come at great personal cost. There are certainly many people whose incredible contributions have never been recognised.

To mark this grim 500th anniversary the Journalists’ Charity is seeking the incredible untold stories of our amazing unsung heroes.

Ramsay Smith, chairman of the Journalists’ Charity, said: “Unsung Heroes is a cause we can all recognise and support. There are so many people who have stepped up to the plate during this national crisis to help others and we wholeheartedly believe in highlighting their magnificent efforts. Their everyday heroism has not been for their own benefit but rather a deep sense of duty to help others in a time of real need.

 “Our charity has seen first-hand the need for help throughout the pandemic but it is the stories of ordinary people helping others we wish to capture and give them due recognition. We’re sure there are many of them in all corners of the country.”

Help us give the unsung heroes the recognition they deserve and nominate the person you think has gone above and beyond.

Competition – how it works…

All entries to : unsungheroes@journalistscharity.org.uk.

Entries can be posted to: Journalists’ Charity, Dickens House, 35 Wathen Rd, Dorking, Surrey RH4 1JY

Any regional or local papers can run the competition their way and announce winners at their convenience, but before the end of June 21, 2021 

Copies of winning nominations will be sent to the Journalists’ Charity.

The national winner will be announced later in the year (hopefully at a suitable venue) and there will also be a thank you to the nominator.

The overall winner be presented with an engraved trophy and will be regarded as the representative of all those nominated and all those to whom the public owe a debt of gratitude.

There are no entry fees for these nominations but we would encourage entrants to donate to the charity  HERE.

Full details and rules 

• Entrants must be resident in the UK & NI.
• One entry per person only.
• Entrants should identify & describe their unsung hero and why they should be nominated in no more than 500 words.
• Entrants should describe the relationship with their nominee.
• The prize will be an engraved trophy.
• This competition is free to enter with donations to the Journalists’ Charity from participants and non-participants most welcome.
• Entries must be received by the charity by 5pm on June 12^th 2021 
• All regional winners and a shortlist of entrants who entered nationally will be published on the Journalists’ Charity website on June 30^th 2021 when a date for the overall winner announcement will be set.
• The judges decision is final and no correspondence with entrants will be entered into.