Leeds Rhinos star Jamie Jones-Buchanan receives prestigious Leeds Award

Leeds Rhinos star, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, has received one of the city’s highest civic honours.

A champion both on and off the playing field, Jamie’s dedication to his club and city has been recognised with a prestigious Leeds Award.

The Leeds Award formally recognises those who have made an enormous contribution to the city, with their names proudly displayed on the wall in the antechamber of Leeds Civic Hall.

At a special ceremony this week, Jamie was presented with his award by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Eileen Taylor, who congratulated him on his fantastic sporting career but also thanked him for his far-reaching charity and community work over the years.

Born in Leeds in 1981, Jamie is a one club man and has played for Leeds Rhinos for an incredible 20 years having come through their junior development programme.

He drew the curtain on his professional rugby league career in September but has represented the club in excess of 400 times since signing for them in 1999.

His remarkable sporting achievements include winning the Challenge Cup, being seven times Super League winners, three times league leaders and three times world champions. He has also represented England 14 times and Great Britain once.

Asides from his many sporting accolades, Jamie also works tirelessly to support his city through extensive charity and community work.

As a trustee of the Leeds Rhinos Foundation, he takes part in many fundraising events and attends numerous talks, presentations and openings to use his influence to help others.

He is also a proud supporter of the White Ribbon Campaign, a global movement of men and boys working to end male violence against women and girls.

As well as this, Jamie also supports initiatives such as the Child Friendly Leeds agenda and the Six Book Challenge which helps to tackle adult literacy, mental health and social isolation through the power of reading.

The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Eileen Taylor, said:

“It was an absolute honour and privilege for me to be able to present Jamie with a Leeds Award.

“To have such a long and successful sporting career is phenomenal and to use that to help many people across the city through his work in the community and for charities is to be commended.

“The Leeds Award, which is one of our city’s most prestigious civic honours, was designed to honour those people that have made an enormous contribution and achieved so much in their respective fields, and there is no better recipient than Jamie.”

Jamie Jones-Buchanan said:

“I can’t express what an honour it is to receive this award with my family. Leeds is my home and I am just a reflection of what the people of this great city have graciously given to me over the last 38 years. The Leeds Rhinos in particular have given me the opportunity to thrive and realise some of my potential as a professional sportsman.

“Our moto at the Leeds Rhinos Foundation is to ‘change lives through sport’ and as a professional sportsman, it’s been a privilege to share my thoughts and experiences to future generations, local communities and organisations.

“I love Leeds and want it to be the best city in the world and God willing, I will continue to serve this city until my last breath.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The Leeds Award is a prestigious honour that recognises that there are many people, groups, organisations and teams that bring great credit to the City through their exceptional hard work and dedication.

It has been established by Leeds City Council to formally recognise those whose outstanding contributions are a credit to the City and its people.

It is viewed as a lasting tribute to those contributions that make a real difference to the city.

Recipients of the Leeds Award will have their name inscribed on the ‘wall of fame’ located in the Ante Chamber of the Civic Hall.

A panel comprising of one Member from each Group is responsible for assessing nominations for the award and making recommendations to Full Council.

Criteria for granting the Award:

• Awarded to those who change the life or lives of the people of Leeds.
• For those who perform an exceptional service to their community
• Normally precluded from the Leeds Award if previously recognised for the same service by a national award, within the last 15 years.
• A person/team/group/organisation may not nominate themselves and, where appropriate, letters of support in addition to the nomination may be required
• If an individual is nominated by a family member, another independent nomination or letter of support must be received

The Leeds Award is not for:

• Councillors
• Services that have their own recognition system
• Person who is in a leadership/chairing role by deed of appointment or election, e.g. Chair of a local Leeds in Bloom group who also have to be able to demonstrate a significant environmental improvement.

Unsuccessful nominations may be re-submitted after a period of two years.

For media enquiries please contact:

Leeds City Council communications and marketing

Tel: 0113 378 6007

Email: communicationsteam@leeds.gov.uk