FOUR council and college workers were hailed as “champions” for their communities at Unison’s annual local government conference in Brighton on Sunday.

Jacob Beaumont, a homeless assessment officer at Cardiff Council, was named the overall Local Service Champion for 2026.

Colleagues praised his empathy, compassion and respect carrying out his role supporting some of the city’s most vulnerable residents at times of crisis.

Eleanor Siddall, lead practitioner in the strengthening families team at Salford City Council, and Ferzana Bhatti, a senior housing solution and support case worker at Birmingham City Council working with homeless people, were runners-up.

Thomas Hewitt, a digital skills trainer at Nottingham College, was overall winner of The Champions In Our Colleges.

Colleagues praised “his kind and cheerful personality and the way he’s able to support people around him, either directly or indirectly.”

Unison general secretary Andrea Egan said: “Our communities wouldn’t be the same without these otherwise unsung champions.”