Salford Media has announced the revival of its Community Champion Awards, created to recognise and honour the individuals and organisations who dedicate themselves to serving the city and improving life for local people.
Rather than celebrating celebrities and the usual household names, the awards aim to shine a light on the unsung heroes who form the backbone of our communities — the people whose hard work, dedication and compassion make Salford a better place for everyone.
Recipients will be chosen not only through community nominations and public feedback, but also on the merit, impact and lasting value of the work they have carried out within their local communities.
We are proud to announce that the first recipient of the revived award is a woman who has tirelessly championed Little Hulton for many years and whose efforts have had a remarkable impact on the local area.
Teresa Pepper has played a key role in securing major improvements for Peel Park, including the wonderful new pavilion, BMX track and Multi-Use Games Area. Her dedication to the community has helped transform local spaces and improve opportunities for residents of all ages.
In February 2025, work began on a major project to transform the district centre public space into a safer, more attractive and accessible area for both residents and visitors.
The scheme was made possible after Salford City Council secured £250,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, alongside a further £250,000 investment from ForHousing. Teresa was instrumental in campaigning for the project and helping to bring those improvements to fruition.
The sheer amount of work Teresa has been involved in over the years is truly remarkable and she continues to be a tremendous asset to the local community and is a member of countless groups in the area.
One particularly memorable moment for us came in November 2025, when we were invited to St Paul’s Peel in Little Hulton to film the incredible Remembrance Sunday poppy displays honouring the area’s fallen heroes. The displays were outstanding and the overwhelming sense of community spirit from everyone involved was genuinely moving. The love and passion she showed for the project really shone through.
It therefore felt only fitting that, while filming the Little Hulton to Walkden parade along the old loop-line on Saturday 30 May, we surprised Teresa with the very first Community Champion Award. We could not have chosen a more deserving recipient. Teresa, we salute you and look forward to seeing your next projects.
If you know somebody in your area who goes above and beyond for their community — one of the many unsung heroes helping to make Salford a better place — you can nominate them by contacting us at newsdesk@salfordmedia.co.uk.
Please use the subject line: “Salford Community Champion Nomination”.
Be sure to tell us as much as you can about them and the work they have done.
