About the Awards

What are the Ely Hero Awards?

We all know Ely and the surrounding villages are great places to live and work. We wanted to shine a light on the incredible individuals who make our community a better place. The Ely Hero Awards celebrate and reward those who are compassionate, determined, honourable, kind, supportive, and brave – an inspiration to us all. Reflecting the spirit of this, the idea of the very first Ely Hero Awards was born in 2017.

Local community awards play a vital role in acknowledging the hard work, dedication, and impact of individuals and organisations within a community. These awards serve not only to honour outstanding contributions but also to inspire others to take an active role in local development. By highlighting the achievements of volunteers, community leaders, and local businesses, such recognition fosters a sense of pride and unity among residents.

Whether it’s a neighbour who always lends a helping hand, a teacher who goes the extra mile, or a volunteer tirelessly working behind the scenes, the Ely Hero Awards aim to recognise their invaluable contributions to the Ely area. Join us in celebrating the true heroes among us!

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Our team

Naomi Sherwood and Luke Smith co-founded the Ely Hero Awards in 2017. Since then, we’ve mustered up a whole army of supporters and helpers. Each year, the whole team volunteers their time to bring the awards to life.

Naomi Sherwood

Co-Founder

Originally from the North, Naomi has lived and worked in the Ely area for over 10 years. Naomi’s background in business development and operations makes her an indispensable asset to our team. With a wealth of experience in project management and organisational skills, she ensures that everything runs smoothly and efficiently, from co-ordinating the nomination process to welcoming our guests at each award ceremony.

Luke Smith

Co-Founder

Luke grew up in Ely and still lives and works in the City. He is Creative Director at Studio Nova, a creative design agency. He oversees all visual aspects of the Ely Hero Awards, such as the website, marketing materials and the collateral for each award ceremony, Luke ensures that every element is not only visually stunning but also harmoniously aligned with the spirit of the event.

How do the Awards work?

Any individual who lives or works in Ely or the surrounding villages (up to a 10-mile radius) can be nominated for an Ely Hero Award in one of 10 categories. Nominations can be made via the website during each year’s nomination period.

Once the nomination period closes, the entries are collated and handed over to our dedicated team of judges, who together, whittle the nominations down to our fabulous finalists.

Finalists are then invited to the glitzy Award Ceremony – an evening of excitement and celebration, rewarding those in the community who make it great!