Virgin Media’s £10,000 hunt for Edinburgh and Liverpool’s ‘Local Legends’

• People across Edinburgh and Liverpool have the power to nominate a ‘Local Legend’ – someone who has gone above and beyond during the Covid-19 pandemic

• A winner in each city will receive a life-changing tech makeover and Gig1 broadband – a prize worth up to £10,000
• TV presenter Konnie Huq will join judging panels to select the winners
• The campaign is launched following the recent switch on of next-generation gigabit broadband speeds across both cities

Virgin Media is on the hunt for Edinburgh and Liverpool’s unsung heroes; individuals, organisations or community groups, which have gone the extra mile during the pandemic and have made a huge difference to people’s lives.

They could be recognised and rewarded for their efforts with an incredible technology makeover for a winner in each city - worth up to £10,000!

Virgin Media is asking for people across both cities to nominate their ‘Local Legends’ - the individuals, community groups, or not-for-profit organisations who have made a significant contribution to their city. The company wants to hear about those who have gone above and beyond to help others during the past few months, and who deserve to be recognised for their efforts.

Virgin Media is offering a complete tech transformation: a winner from each city will receive Virgin Media’s blisteringly-fast Gig1 broadband for two years, as well as a personalised technology makeover so they have the latest gadgets to make the most of their next-level connectivity.

Entries will be shortlisted and specially selected judging panels including TV presenter and author, Konnie Huq will be tasked with selecting Edinburgh and Liverpool’s winners.

The campaign follows the recent switch on of next-generation gigabit connectivity in both cities where people can now take Virgin Media’s Gig1 broadband offering average download speeds of 1,140Mbps.

Vote for your Local Legend

We’ve heard many heroic tales in recent months of communities up and down the country that have come together to help one another through this difficult time, and of individuals like 100 year-old Captain Tom Moore who raised more than £32m for the NHS.

Virgin Media wants to hear from people in Edinburgh and Liverpool about the ‘Local Legends’ in their area who deserve to be rewarded and recognised.

It could be a teacher or NHS worker who have stepped up to serve their community, a neighbour who has kept the street entertained with a weekly virtual quiz, a fundraiser who has raised money for a worthy cause, a community group which has rallied together to deliver food parcels for people who are  shielding, or a moment of kindness that simply needs to be recognised.

Edinburgh and Liverpool heroes

As a result of Covid-19, more than half of Edinburgh residents (58%) and almost half of Liverpudlians (47%) said there are heroes in their communities who deserve to be recognised for the role they’ve played during the pandemic.

Almost three quarters (73%) of people in Edinburgh and more than two thirds of those in Liverpool (68%) say they have been inspired by those working on the front line, with doctors and nurses, supermarket workers and emergency service workers named as the people who have gone the extra mile during the pandemic and should be recognised for their efforts.

The pandemic has made people more altruistic in both cities with more than a quarter (26%) in Edinburgh and more than a fifth (21%) of people in Liverpool saying they have helped someone in their community, such as checking on a neighbour or offering to get someone shopping.  As a result, more than a third (34%) of people in Edinburgh say they now feel more connected to their community, while almost a third (32%) of people in Liverpool feel more connected to their neighbours.

Konnie Huq, a member of Virgin Media’s Local Legends judging panel, said:

"I’m so excited to be helping to find Edinburgh and Liverpool’s Local Legends with Virgin Media - we’re talking about unsung heroes who have  gone above and beyond to make a difference to people’s lives. We’ve all witnessed acts of heroism and kindness, and this competition gives everyone a chance to recognise and thank those people for all they’ve done. I can’t wait to see the entries - get your nominations in now.”

The competition closes at 11.59pm on Thursday 13 August.   

ENDS

Information on Virgin Media’s Gig1 broadband can be found here.

The announcement of Virgin Media’s gigabit speeds being switched on in Edinburgh and Liverpool can be found here:

Research conducted by Opinium between 07/07/2020 and 10/07/2020 with 81 people in Liverpool and 91 people in Edinburgh.