Male Role Model Awards: winners and special recognition announced following a night of celebration.

20 November 2025

The winner of West Northamptonshire’s Male Role Model Awards was announced last night (Wednesday 19 November 2025) at a ceremony which celebrated local men and boys who have gone above and beyond in their community, whilst raising awareness of men’s wellbeing.  

The awards ceremony, which was held at the Guildhall in Northampton was attended by those shortlisted, as well as local partners and organisations to share information, resources and signposting on men’s mental wellbeing support available. With a joint aim of recognising those who have had a positive impact in their local community, as well as putting a spotlight on the importance of men’s wellbeing, the event was a great success with a real sense of buzz, interest and celebration.  

The winner of 2025 Male Role Model Awards in West Northamptonshire is John Stephens, who was nominated for his outstanding commitment to his community despite his own personal challenges and recent health battle. John is known to many locally for his dedicated work at his local food larder in Roade, where he is a voluntary coordinator and leads a team of 30 volunteers who support over 100 families every week.  John’s resilience, dedication and commitment make him a true role model and inspiration to us all.  

I feel honoured to win this award, and I thank those who nominated me for it. Everyone that is at the event is inspirational; there are so many men doing amazing things to help other men and they’re all role models for me as well.John Stephens, 2025 Male Role Model Awards winner in West Northamptonshire

A special recognition was also given to Junior Anderson, a retired police officer who is continuing to make remarkable impact in his community. Through martial arts and mentorship, he has helped countless young people turn their lives around. In addition to this, he also organises free summer events at Billing Pocket park, showing his unwavering commitment to creating positive opportunities for others. John added: 

I was speechless when I received this award. There are so many other worthy nominees, and everyone deserved to win. I thank West Northants Council for this event, and for giving me this special recognition.John Stephens, 2025 Male Role Model Awards winner in West Northamptonshire

These awards are a great recognition for those that go above and beyond for their local community and it is truly special that all those shortlisted have been nominated by people in the area where they live and work, I don’t believe there is better recognition than that.

The shortlists this year were inspiring and it is fantastic that these awards can be held on International Mens Day, bringing together the importance of men’s mental wellbeing with the recognition and celebration that comes from the nominations.

Cllr Charlie Hastie, Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing