Spirit of Youth
Nathan Johnston, a student at Archbishop Holgate’s School, York, and a St John Ambulance cadet at York Combined Cadet Unit, for giving first aid to three people at the scene of a horror accident when he was only 15. Gutsy teenager Jade Cumberland, a former student of Burnholme Community College, York, for her determination despite being born with a rare syndrome affecting her legs and hands. Emily Andrews, previously a student at York College, for dedicating more than 200 hours to helping out at various Girl Guiding, Brownie, Rainbow and orienteering groups.

Public Sector Hero
Carl Recchia, of Dringhouses, York, for working tirelessly as an estate manager in all weather conditions – and always with a smile. Barry Wheatland, of Rawcliffe, York, for going the extra mile to help others as a street cleaner in the city centre. Russell Stone, for his exceptional work as general manager of City of York Council’s street scene.

Charity Fundraiser of the Year
Kath Burton, of Haxby Road, York, for her sterling fundraising work after losing her daughter to cot death. Pat Leveson, of Huntington, York, for raising more than a million pounds for York Against Cancer over the last 20 years. David Sutherland, of Heworth, York, for attending every single fundraising event for York Blind And Partially Sighted Society over the last five years.

Child of the Year
Nine-year-old Chloe Branton, of Huntington, York, for caring for her seven-year-old sister Lucy, and Lucy, who suffers from cerebral palsy, for proving people wrong who said she would never achieve anything. Plucky Charlotte Rose, ten, who goes to St Olave’s School, York, for learning to walk again after suffering a brain haemorrhage, and raising thousands of pounds for the ward where she was treated. Six-year-old Lydia Mellen, of Shirley Avenue, York, for bravely overcoming a rare liver disease to lead a full life at school. Finally, in this category is Charlotte Leighton, of Tollerton, near York, who has shown great courage in recovering from her collision with a car, and generating funds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Service that rescued her after the accident.

Teacher of the Year
Anne Forman, for dedicating hours of her free-time to running after-school sports clubs at Huntington Primary School. Jonathon Green, for running inspirational sports clubs at Archbishop of York’s Junior School, and for organising an annual charity talent show. Special needs teacher Gerry Gill for being a “life-line” to children who go to Hob Moor Oaks School, in York.

Service with a Smile
Cartridge World, in Clifton, York, for going above and beyond the call of duty. Krumbs Café, in Tanner Row, York, for providing vocational training to people with learning disabilities. Older Citizens Advocacy York, in Townend Street, for helping out the city’s pensioners.

Best Community Project
Friends of West Bank Park, in Holgate, for creating a rockery as a nature area for local residents. Holgate Windmill Preservation Society, for its tireless work in restoring York’s only surviving windmill in a bid to turn it into an educational resource for children and adults. York Talking Newspaper for bringing local news to blind and partially-sighted people in the city and beyond.

Volunteer of the Year
Margaret Aitchison, of Muncaster, York, for giving up her free time to run dance sessions for youngsters in York. Brenda Gledhill, of Filey Terrace, York, for spending her retirement baking fervently into the small hours to raise money for Older Citizens Advocacy York. David Coulson, of Navigation Road, York, for being a good neighbour and a dedicated treasurer of Navigation Street Resident’s Association.

Health Service Hero
MacMillan nurse Debbie Johnson, of Upper Poppleton, York, for the sterling support she gave to the Brooks family before their father, Mike, died of bowel cancer. Joan Gibson, for going the extra mile in her role as a deputy ward manager at York Hospital to help a staff member achieve an NVQ. Denise McGowan, of Strensall, York, for transforming the lives of hundreds of elderly people in York.

Sporting Hero
Val Kennedy, of Haxby, York, for spending hours every week umpiring netball matches, coaching trainee umpires and organising tournaments. Scott Birkley, for the time he spends coaching enthusiastic youngsters at Skelton Football Club. Belinda Turnbull, of Poppleton Lawn Tennis Club, for teaching tennis to hundreds of budding players across the city.

Parent of the Year
Amanda Walker, of Dringhouses,York, for turning her own life around and being the pride of her son’s life. David Henderson, of Acomb, for the help he gives to everybody around him, including his sons. Bev Davis, of Holgate, for being a wonderful stand-in mum for Cara Stubbs, whose real mum is severely disabled.

Best Primary School Project
Youngsters at Carr Junior School, for raising £16,000 since March to help restore their school’s swimming pool. Pupils at Park Grove Primary School, for their dedication to the environment by holding a jam-packed eco-week in June. Eco-warriors at Clifton Green Primary School, for developing a new recycling scheme and recycling three tonnes of paper every year.

Best Secondary School or Higher Education Project
A team of 11 young people from Fulford School and the University of York, for renovating a run-down room within Fulford Social Hall. Year 10 pupils at Canon Lee School, for creating a wildlife haven in the grounds of Rawcliffe Infant School to thank it for giving them a good start to their education. Year 9 pupils at Burnholme Community College, for producing a hard-hitting advertisement campaign aimed at cutting the number of teenage pregnancies.

Person of the Year
Ron Bielby, of Dunnington, for his remarkable contribution to the community in Dunnington, and for leading the village to a silver gilt award in the Britain in Bloom contest. Joanne Pullar, of Rosemary Court, York, for transforming an empty shop on Walmgate into a place where people of all ages can go to express themselves artistically. Liz Allen, the co-ordinator of York’s Macmillan Carer Support Service, for being “one in a million”.