THE recent 14th annual Proud of Barnsley awards brought us together once again, offering a moment to pause and celebrate the remarkable people who make such a difference across our town.

As a local MP, it is always a privilege to attend the awards and celebrate with the nominees and the winners. These are the everyday heroes who never ask for recognition, but absolutely deserve it.

Whether it’s going above and beyond to support good causes, like Winifred Dean and Nathan Cox; showing selflessness as a carer, like Maria Robertshaw-Corbett; or supporting patients most in need, like Barnsley Hospital Charity - these are the very best of our town.

People like Sean Margison, who helps individuals with dementia stay active; Barnsley Round Table, which fundraises and supports community projects; and Mapplewell Primary School, which helps our young people thrive and flourish - these too are the very best of our town.

We should also celebrate the winners of the Mayor of Barnsley’s Special Award, Athersley North Primary School. They became a beacon of support and hope following the terrible tragedy that took two of their students and their parents. It is a truly well-deserved award.

One of the Triumph Over Adversity Award went to the family of Yvonne Ford, who kept going in the toughest of times, with Robyn now even volunteering overseas in Cambodia with Mission Rabies. Truly remarkable.

The Proud of Barnsley awards remind us that whatever our differences, we are all bound by a shared responsibility to make our town a better place to live and work - something our nominees and winners embody so clearly.

When we first set up the Proud of Barnsley awards in 2012, the world was very different. It was the year of the London Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. It was the year Gangnam Style became the first YouTube video to reach one billion views - thankfully, not the Ed Balls version!

Dare I mention, Barnsley Football Club were still in the Championship. In many ways, 2012 feels like a lifetime ago&

But not everything has changed. In 2012, I spoke about Barnsley spirit, and since then, that spirit has not changed one bit. Every nominee and winner represents the spirit of helping others and being proud of our town. It is about actions, not just words, and it is what sets Barnsley apart.

I want to take the opportunity to thank the Barnsley Chronicle for organising the awards and overseeing the nomination process. It is an enormous amount of work, and without you, the Proud of Barnsley awards simply would not happen.

Thanks must also go to the generous sponsors, without whom the evening would not have taken place, and to the amazing technical team who work tirelessly to make it such a spectacular and special event.

Finally, I want to thank and congratulate all of the nominees and winners. Without you and your extraordinary display of Barnsley spirit, none of us would have cause to celebrate. Barnsley is extremely proud of you.