Introducing Pride of the Playground: celebrating the young people making a difference every day.

This autumn, the Mirror has launched Pride of the Playground, a new nationwide initiative giving primary schools across the UK the chance to recognise and celebrate the children who make a difference every day.

Celebrating the everyday heroes of the playground
Pride of the Playground is a free initiative designed to put kindness, courage and community at the heart of school life.

Inspired by the long-standing Pride of Britain Awards, it brings the spirit of celebrating unsung heroes into primary schools, giving children the recognition they deserve for the positive difference they make.

From eco champions and young fundraisers to community-minded pupils, young leaders and those who simply go the extra mile for others, the initiative shines a light on the everyday acts of goodness happening in schools across the country.

Everything schools need to celebrate their heroes
Pride of the Playground gives schools a ready-made framework to run their own celebration, with everything they need to get involved, including:

• Award categories
• Nomination forms
• Judging guidance
• Certificates
• Assembly materials

It’s designed to be simple for schools to take part in, while giving children a meaningful moment to feel seen, valued and celebrated.

Bringing the Pride of Britain spirit to a new generation
For the Mirror, Pride of the Playground is a natural extension of the Pride of Britain movement.

While the Pride of Britain Awards celebrate extraordinary people on the national stage, Pride of the Playground brings that same spirit of recognition into classrooms, playgrounds and communities – celebrating the good happening every day, often without fanfare.

As Carol Vorderman puts it:

“Pride of the Playground is about helping a generation to celebrate goodness.”

With Pride of Britain returning to ITV this autumn, the initiative creates a new dimension to the wider movement, connecting the national celebration of unsung heroes with the next generation.

Join us in celebrating the pupils who bring kindness, leadership and courage to your corridors. Together, let’s celebrate good and inspire more of it.

👉 Download your pack to get started today at Pride of the Playground