The Sun has partnered with public service broadcaster Channel 4 and NHS Charities Together to make the annual Who Cares Wins awards the biggest and best yet. Backed by the Prime Minister, the awards will celebrate and thank all the healthcare heroes, key workers and ordinary people who have got us through one of the most difficult years in living history.
This will be the first partnership with Channel 4, who will broadcast the awards, and see the return of the partnership with NHS Charities Together, for whom The Sun’s generous readers raised over £1m last year to get vital support to staff in their hour of need.
The awards were set up in 2017 as a way for readers to celebrate their NHS and healthcare heroes, and now in their fourth year after being pioneered by The Sun’s late Health Editor Christina Newbury, who died suddenly, aged 31. The Christina Newbury Memorial Award is named in her honour.
The winners of the Who Cares Wins Awards 2021 will be revealed at a star-studded ceremony later this year. The awards’ host, location and date will be revealed in due course.
Victoria Newton, Editor-in-chief of The Sun, said: “The Sun’s Who Cares Wins awards has always celebrated our NHS heroes, and that’s why we’re so pleased to be partnering with Channel 4 and NHS Charities Together this year to make Who Cares Wins even bigger, after such an extraordinary effort by our health care key workers. There is a crucial public interest in commemorating those who went above and beyond to keep us safe, and I look forward to celebrating the tremendous effort given by those people in such challenging circumstances.”
Ian Katz, Director of Programmes for Channel 4, said: “The past year has reminded us more powerfully than ever before of the debt we owe the remarkable NHS staff and other healthcare workers who have sacrificed so much to keep us healthy, so I’m delighted that we are partnering with The Sun to bring their Who Cares Wins Awards ceremony to homes across the country. It promises to be a stirring as well as hugely entertaining event.”
Ellie Orton, Chief Executive of NHS Charities Together, said: “Thank you to the Sun and Channel 4 for this chance to highlight the NHS staff, volunteers and charity workers who have been there for us throughout the Covid crisis, their commitment, the sacrifices they have made and the toll it has taken on them. There are so many powerful stories to tell, and this is an opportunity to tell them and show how much we appreciate what they have done and continue to do for all of us.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Through my own battle with covid, I saw first-hand quite how brilliant our NHS is. From nurses and cleaners, to porters, doctors and volunteers – everyone working in our health service came together to provide the most extraordinary service, during the most extraordinary times. There can’t have been a more fitting time to celebrate The Sun’s Who Cares Wins Awards, and it’s great they’ll be even bigger this year – recognising more of our key workers, and giving the public the chance to watch on TV. I can’t wait to meet all of the worthy winners in person, hear their stories, and give them my very personal thanks.”
NHS Chief Executive Sir Simon Stevens said: “After a year like no other for the country and for NHS staff it’s entirely fitting that The Sun’s Who Cares Wins Awards are going to be even bigger and better than ever. Nurses, paramedics, cleaners, doctors, porters, therapists, pharmacists and many other amazing staff across our health service are rightly being recognised for everything they do for us all. So on behalf of the health service, thanks for this continuing support and this fantastic event.”
The full list of award categories are:
1. Best Doctor
2. Bet Nurse
3. Best Team
4. Unsung Hero
5. Best Midwife
6. Ultimate Lifesaver
7. Young Hero
8. Groundbreaking Pioneer
9. Mental Health
10. The Christina Newbury Memorial Award
11. Best Health Charity
12. 999 Hero
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