HEROIC lifesavers, brave children and dedicated volunteers are among those who have made it on to this year’s York Community Pride Awards shortlist.

The Press has been inundated with entries from people eager to highlight the efforts of individuals and groups who really make a difference.

After much deliberation by the judges, the finalists have been selected in all 12 categories of the awards, which are run by The Press and City of York Council with principal sponsors Benenden.

The winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony at York Racecourse in October.

York Press:
 

Spirit of Youth

Megan Harris, who was a carer for her late mum during her battle with motor neurone disease, has been shortlisted. She was just 12 when her mum, Janine, was diagnosed with the disease and she took it upon herself to be a carer for Janine.

Alfie Fox has also made the final two in the category. Rather than let his disabilities get in the way of his achievements, he turns them into abilities. He has cerebral palsy, cerebral vision impairment and epilepsy.

Public Sector Hero

Former city archivist Rita Freedman is a finalist. She spent nearly 40 years maintaining York’s collection of historical documents. When she retired she took on the job of honorary archivist for the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, in Fossgate, York.

Lisa Solanki is a special educational needs and disabilities co-ordinator at Fishergate Primary School. Her “proactive, passionate attitude drives the school” where special educational needs is concerned.

Sally Dunsire, a reprographics officer at All Saints RC School. Mrs Dunsire has worked at All Saints for more than 25 years and her commitment to serving others “is second to none.”

Charity Fundraiser of the Year

Richard Shaw, Rebekah Stott and Jean Prior have made the top three in this category.

Mr Shaw was a Poppy Appeal organiser for nearly 20 years and helped raise £500,000 for the annual collection in the Fulford and District area.

For her 100th birthday party, Mrs Stott requested no presents, just donations. The party raised £1,000 towards a new machine for the self-dialysis room in York Hospital’s Renal Unit.

Mrs Prior is a registered volunteer for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and has helped raise about £35,000 in total for the charity.

In the past, she has also helped raise money for St John’s Catholic School for the Deaf in Boston Spa and the RNLI.

Child of the Year

Daisybella Bond suffers from Noonan Syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes a wide range of symptoms, such as heart abnormalities and unusual facial characteristics. She was nominated for her “bravery and her fab outlook on life”.

Dylan Harvey has Type 1 Diabetes and deals with the condition “with no fuss”.

Sisters Tia and Teegan Wrigglesworth were nominated by their terminally ill mum Rachel for their outstanding support and care. They have been described as “strong and brave.”

Youngsters Jessica, Tinky and Charlie, the children of Amy Miller who died aged 35, were put forward for the award for “being brave after losing their wonderful mum last year.”

Teacher of the Year

St Wilfrid’s RC Primary Year 5 and 6 teacher Dan Jones, who is also a sports leader at the school, has expanded its sporting activities and “works very hard to widen the children’s introduction to many different sports through after school clubs, external coaches and sporting bodies during PE lessons.”

Matt Oxley is a Year 4 teacher at Badger Hill Primary School and “always goes beyond the duties as a teacher and genuinely cares about the well being of the children as well as their education.”

Lisa Dewhurst is a reception teacher at Woodthorpe Primary School. Her teaching style has been described as “outstanding” and she “finds a way to make learning fun and innovative.”

Volunteer of the Year

Helen Rawling has spent countless hours helping homeless people. She is a member of the volunteer group Sunday Feed at the Spurriergate Centre in York city centre.

She has been shortlisted along with Tricia Pollard, who became a fundraising volunteer for York Mind, an independent provider of mental health services in York and its surrounding area, four years ago.

Although she experienced a devastating personal tragedy last year when her son died, “her dedication to the charity has remained throughout.”

Paddy Gibson is also up for the Volunteer of the Year award. He serves up porridge and toast at Carecent on Thursdays - a breakfast centre for homeless, unemployed or socially excluded members of the community.

Health Service Hero

This year’s Health Service Hero finalists includes “amazing” GP Dr Elizabeth Nellist.

She helped a patient, Sarah Leighton, during a “very dark moment” of her life and “saved” her.

Dr Richard Wilcox was also nominated by a patient, Ellie Lomas. She said there have been times when he has helped save her life when she was feeling low.

They are finalists with Catherine Gascoyne. She has been a waiting list co-ordinator at York hospital for 19 years but has worked at the hospital for nearly 30 years, having worked in the pathology department as a clerical officer before taking on her current role.

Miss Gascoyne is a “shining example of how the NHS should operate.”

Sporting Hero

Brian Parkinson has been the coach for Wheldrake Juniors Football Club’s under-6s team since 2001 and does a “magnificent job” every year.

He was nominated in the Sporting Hero category with Phil Sanderson and Josh Burgess.

Mr Sanderson helped set up a junior football club - Hamilton Panthers FC - in 1988 and is the only co-founder still involved with the Little Knavesmire-based club.

Judo instructor Mr Burgess runs classes on Fridays and Saturdays at Old Priory Judo Club’s two sites.

He said the club nearly closed before he and his wife Maria took over about eight years ago.

Person of the Year

Person of the Year nominee Angie Gooch voluntarily transformed a piece of council-owned wasteland into an “oasis” where local residents can socialise. She spent nearly every evening over a period of six months turning the site off Holgate Road into a community garden.

Fran Haggerty is also a finalist. She was nominated for undertaking a variety of voluntary work in the Holgate ward area, including helping to run a community cafe at St Barnabas Church and co-ordinating a series of awareness days.

Beryl Johnson is an “unsung hero” at St Edward the Confessor’s Church in Dringhouses. Her commitment to the church and volunteering is “amazing”. She helped raise money to update and renovate the adjoining Community Hall.

Good Neighbour of the Year

Lifesaver Carmen Dussoye is among the three finalists for this gong after performing CPR on neighbour Ralph Harness after he collapsed at home.

Wendy Bryant does so much for neighbours, friends and family “without a thought for her own well-being”.

Tony and Averil Eayrs were nominated by neighbour Rachel Parker, who said “they look after our end of a cul-de-sac, remind us to put bins out on the correct day, give copious gardening advice, and are always supportive with our frequent street parties”.

Best Community Project

Team Lifestyle Cafe were among the winners of North Yorkshire Police’s Lifestyle challenge in 2015. Since then, the group have staged several one-off events to benefit local good causes, including York flood victims, the Jorvik Viking Centre and Max’s Mission.

Woodthorpe York Community Group launched in February 2016. It was nominated for doing a “wonderful job” of bringing spirit to Woodthorpe. A family fun day and a Christmas celebration are among the events it has organised.

Chill in the Community has also made it through to the final. The cafe has developed into a hub for the community of Acomb. It runs a baby group, arts and crafts sessions for children, and for adults, a group for people with additional needs, and another for people with mental health issues.

School of the Year

The School of the Year award recognises a school which has had a positive impact on its pupils and the wider community.

Clifton Green Primary School has been shortlisted, with staff praised for going the “extra mile” to help pupils and parents.

Tang Hall Primary School was put forward for the award and described as “outstanding.” Parent Shannon Cathcart said “positivity oozes out of the walls of the school.”

Also in the running for the award is Yearsley Grove Primary School. It was nominated after the whole school took part in a Random Act of Kindness Week in October last year.