We celebrate those people who have given their time and effort to the City, its people and the Trust itself. The Awards were named in their honour by agreement with their families or representatives and funding associated with them allocated to young people to help them achieve their personal goals.
The
Len Collinson Award
Len Collinson lived on Merseyside and landed there in 1965 via Plessey Communications. He created Collinson Grant Group, international management consultants in 1991 and started three other private companies.
He was chairman of the Private Sector Partners (140,000 businesses with 1.2 million employees) for six years. He was national executive chairman for The Forum of Private Business from 2004 to 2008, a director/trustee of Mission in the Economy (Merseyside), the People's History Museum and a founder of the Salford Foundation.
The Trust is pleased to announce that the recipient of the Len Collinson Award is a young ballet dancer who has demonstrated great commitment and is being supported to undertake a Senior Associateship at Elmhurst Ballet School in association with the Birmingham Royal Ballet.
The Len Collinson Award will enable the recipient to continue to be professionally trained and the opportunity to progress into a career within the Art of ballet.
The
Ian Townley Award
Ian Townley was the Chairman of Salford Foundation from 1990 until he passed away in 2014 and the Chair of the Trust for the first three years of its existence. He was the first Chair of Salford Chamber of Commerce in the eighties and in that capacity worked with a range of partners to develop a local partnership that ultimately became Salford Foundation.
He was committed to supporting young people to get the best possible start in life and the Award in his name is a fitting tribute to his memory.
The Award is given in memory of Ian to a young person who has overcome challenging circumstances and shown exceptional talent and dedication in their hobby, interest or skill.
From May 2016 - 2019 a young elite swimmer is supported through the Ian Townley Award. This young person has demonstrated great commitment and talent in his chosen sport.
The
Tony Wilson Award
This is a special category of award that has been named after the famous broadcaster and music entrepreneur Tony Wilson, who sadly died in 2007 from cancer.
The Tony Wilson Awards are made to children and young people who can demonstrate a special talent or ambition in the fields of art or creative skills. Young people who are awarded this prize will receive a grant in order or develop their talent.
Tony Wilson was born in Salford. His career in broadcasting started with ITN before going on to anchor Granada Tonight. A successful career in television saw him host many cultural and political shows.
"Tony was a great believer in the work carried out by Salford Foundation Trust and I know that he would be very proud to learn that special awards are to be made in his name and in his home city of Salford."
Not only are the awards a fitting tribute to the memory of Tony Wilson, but they provide extra support for young people in a way that Tony would have applauded.
The
Eric Simm
Award
The Salford Arts and Sports Trust joined together with The Salford Foundation Trust in 2011 to ensure the continuation of the Eric Simm Award. The Salford Arts and Sports Trust was established in 1978 by former pupils of Salford Grammar School including the Trust’s President Albert Finney (Actor) and its Chairman Harold Riley (Artist). This award was established in honour of Eric Simm, the headmaster of the school from 1945 – 1963 and was set up in recognition of his services to Education and his promotion of interest in the Arts and the Media amongst teachers and pupils.
Since 2011 the Award has provided a number of young people in Salford with the opportunity to develop their skills and talents, in particular, those with a burgeoning talent in cricket, swimming and performing arts.
"Mr Simm's family are delighted that the remarkable dedication of the group of former pupils of The Salford Grammar School who set up the Salford Arts and Sports Trust has been continued as a part of The Salford Foundation Trust and that Eric Simm's recognition & encouragement of talented young people from the area has continued to be supported."