BHNFT Proud News - Alix Awards special

This edition of Proud News is dedicated to our 2026 Alix Award winners

BestProudNewserAward

This award celebrates the creative genius of the comms team. These nominees embody the patience, Canva skills and margins needed to bring an issue of Proud News to life.

Shortlistedinthiscategory

Alix Lee Alex Leigh Ali Lee Lee

WINNERS 2026

AlixLee

“I could never dream of following in Alix’s Proud News footsteps. Her margins, background removing and co-pilot skills are second-to-none. I will try to do her proud!”

- Emma Shepherd

MostRedBullsconsumedin

2025/26 WINNERS 2026

This award recognises stand-out individuals who took one for the team every morning with a red bull. The shortlisted finalists showed great determination in their love for the beverage.

Shortlistedinthiscategory

Alix Lee

Katie Claydon

Em Shepherd

WINNERS 2026

AlixLee

“This is such an impressive feat. It almost rivals my caffeine intake after a tough day of media inquiries. I look forward to getting this achievement on the front page of the Barnsley Chronicle.”

- Helen Williams

Bestplantkeeper-aliver

This award recognises staff members who have given new life to those who needed a little TLC.

Boris, Bernice and Bobby have elected the following nominees:

Shortlistedinthiscategory

WINNERS 2026

AlixLee

“I feel this is quite an upset actually. If it wasn’t for my mysterious plant balls that I brought into the office in my Sports Direct carrier bag, Bobbz wouldn’t be the size he is today.”

- Andy Leppard

Mostover-the-topstationary

This award recognises a member of comms team who has the most flashy and impressive selection of stationary from pom pom pens to glitter highlighters. Give it up for our nominees...

Shortlistedinthiscategory

WINNER 2026

AlixLee

“This comes as no surprise to me at all. I for one think we should all have a stationary selection like Alix’s. If I ever need a pair of scissors, highlighters or a spare pen when I’m in the comms office - I head straight to Alix’s desk.”

- Zabrina Short

Mostobsessedwithsharks

This award recognises a member of staff who is hyperfixatated on sharks. The following nominees watched every shark related film on Netflix in one weekend.

Shortlistedinthiscategory

Alix Lee

Ali-gator Lee

Alex Lydia Leaf

“I do love sharks!”

- Katie Claydon

Mostlikelytoshareherlifestory

This award recognises a member of staff who always comes into work on a Monday morning with tales (or secrets) from their weekend.

Give it up for the following nominees:

Shortlistedinthiscategory

WINNER 2026

AlixLee

“Sometimes I just want to cancel the Monday morning team catch up meetings and make the agenda all about our Alix.”

- Liz Close

Bestcharityfundraiser

This award is presented to the member of the comms team who won’t stop running or jumping out of planes.

Shortlistedinthiscategory

WINNER 2026

AlixLee

“From cold water plunges, to dragon boats or leaping from planes up in the sky

To knowing that the first raffle ticket Alix will buy

Or digging through tickets, steady and keen

Helping the search like a well-oiled machine

Then signing her sisters, a trio so true

For Barnsley 10K nothing she won’t do

Through every adventure, both bold and precise

In our eyes, Alix you are the top prize!”

- Jane Mills and Kerrie Hyland

MostlikelytoadoptFreya

This award recognises an individual who has gone above and beyond to support Freya Ingham with her apprenticeship, advise and Boohoo discount codes.

The nominees are:

Shortlistedinthiscategory

AlixLee

“It’s hard to put into words how much you mean to me, because you’ve never just been a colleague you’ve been such a genuine, supportive friend. You’ve shown me what real friendship looks like, always being there no matter what, even when you’ve had so much going on yourself. From getting over questionable boys to helping me through my apprenticeship, you’ve always been the one pushing me to do better and keep going. I honestly wouldn’t have achieved what I did without you, and I’ll always be so grateful for that.

I know I’m not there anymore, but I can already tell the comms team won’t be the same without you. At the same time, your new team has no idea how lucky they are to be getting someone like you even if I am a little jealous about you finding new work besties!

Getting through my apprenticeship wouldn’t have been the same without you. From the stressful moments to celebrating my distinction (and all the emotions that came with it), those memories will always mean so much to me.

You really are one of a kind, and anyone who gets to know you is genuinely lucky. I’m so gutted we won’t get to work together again, but I’m so grateful that I get to call you my friend, and you will always have a special place in my heart.”

- Freya Ingham

Some say Alix Lee is one person. These people are wrong. Alix Lee is an infrastructure. Things simply happen around Alix.

Emails tremble when Alix is CC’d. Rogue punctuation packs up and leaves Out of pure intimidation.

Someone says, “It won’t take long.” Alix hears this and ages one year, silently. Still nods. Still fixes it.

Still smiles in a way that suggests they’ve seen things you wouldn’t survive.

Legends say if you spin your chair three times And say “can you just…” into Outlook, Alix appears -

Already holding the better version you didn’t know you needed.

Assistant by contract. Human safety net for absolute nonsense.

If the comms team were a Jenga tower, Alix Lee is the piece everyone keeps pulling out, Then acting shocked When everything almost collapses.

- A poem by Em

Here’s a snapshot of the evening. Although it looks like the same person won every award, this isn’t true. As you can see, the winners are clearly wearing different outfits with different hair styles. We promise!