HEROES who work tirelessly for their communities right across Redcar and Cleveland have received recognition awards from the Mayor in a special ceremony.
A total of 29 individuals and groups received recognition at the annual Mayor’s Community Achievement Awards held at the Civic Centre in Redcar at a packed event last night, Tuesday 11 March.
Nominations were made by local ward councillors across the borough and, for the first time, council staff members who work in the community.
Winners included Year 6 pupils from Dormanstown Primary School who came up with an idea to help reduce food waste whilst also tackling child poverty amongst students and families.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland Cllr Neil Bendelow said: “These awards recognise the hard work and dedication of voluntary groups or individuals, working in the community of Redcar and Cleveland, whose efforts go largely unnoticed and unsung.
“We’ve had a fantastic number of nominations and it’s great to see so many people from the community here tonight. The biggest winners, of course, are the residents of Redcar and Cleveland, they are the ones who benefit from what you all put back into your local area, so thank you.”
The winners were:
1. The Year 6 Pupils at Dormanstown Primary Academy
The pupils came up with an idea to help reduce food waste whilst also tackling food poverty amongst students and families. Three days a week they open a farm shop within the school and sell six food items for £2. They receive a delivery every Monday and spend an hour after school to set up and replenish the shop for the following day. This has helped many families in their time of need.
2. Paul Tuffs
Paul is a volunteer at the youth club run by the Ladies of Steel. He encourages teamwork, inclusiveness, and fair play with the children. Paul gives freely of his time and always puts the children first, giving a wonderful time, but also instilling structure and boundaries that the children need.
3. Bankfields Litter Picking Group
Set up two years ago by Steven Carsley, the group has grown with up to 10 members who visit local areas across the TS6 area and beyond filling up their bags litter picking. The number of bags left for collection most days is testament to their hard work.
4. N Hub Knit Natter
The group has been going for more than two years, with around 15 to 20 attending. They knit to raise money for local charities such as Dementia Care, Hedgehog Protection, Eston Brownies, Whale Hill Community Centre etc and regularly have a stall on Eston Market and have great community engagement.
5. Grangetown Netball Club and Grangetown Boysie Football Club
The clubs give children and young people an opportunity to get involved in sport. This not only improves their physical and mental well-being, but builds confidence, raises aspirations and reduces the likelihood of getting caught up in crime and anti-social behaviour.
They support more than 600 children and young people to have fun, but also to compete at higher levels. Grangetown Netball has produced many regional and national champions and in 2024 the Boysie Football Club were allocated a place in the Northern League.
A big thank you to the dedication of the volunteer coaches, Geraldine Williams, Carl Cairns, Craig Hannan, Groundsman Rob Scot.
6. Gisborough Priory Project Volunteers
The Priory grounds are the jewel in Guisborough’s crown and are kept beautiful by the volunteers who work through all weathers to ensure visitors are attracted to the town. This helps with the local economy and supports local shops and eateries.
7. Guisborough Uniform Bank
Set up to support hundreds of families every year who cannot afford to buy new school uniforms. They also encourage the recycling of old uniforms. The volunteers work tirelessly to ensure children of all ages attend school with a suitable uniform.
8. Lindsay Gilhespy and Jayne Thompson
Both ladies run hedgehog sanctuaries in the Lockwood Ward. They take in sick and distressed hedgehogs, giving them shelter, food and medical assistance. Between them, Lindsay and Jayne have saved hundreds of these loveable animals, without which our countryside would be a much poorer place.
9. Susan Cook
Susan has demonstrated over many years that she is a true community resident who cares about the town and its environment, she supports so many community groups as a volunteer in Saltburn through active participation and unswerving work.
10. The Saltburn 500 Club
The club started in 1990 and, during its history, has been involved in raising a six-figure sum to help towards the restoration of the pier, reintroducing a bandstand to the town and restoring the listed war memorial. Their fundraising supports many other projects including providing the Christmas lights and the summer band concerts.
11. Trevor Welburn
The Chairman of Saltburn 500 Club has also been nominated for an individual award by a member of staff, for his work with so many groups including Brotton Improvement Group, Friends of Saltburn, Treasurer for Brotton Youth Club. Trevor has contributed so much to the local area over a long period time as a volunteer, fundraiser, organiser.
12. The Four Spades (Derek Hedges, Rodger Pell, Geoff Clarke and John Chapman)
Four volunteers who do an enormous amount of DIY and gardening work for the local community groups to keep Skelton looking tidy and attractive. Last year they refurbished a large wooden plant holder made to look like a mine railway carriage and they do so many jobs to improve Skelton.
13. John and Christine Wadrop
For more than 20 years John and Christine have run a club at Borough Park Bowls Club for people with learning difficulties. They do outstanding work in supporting indoor bowls athletes from the Special Olympics team. As well as training and support to help develop and maintain the athletes’ bowling, they help them to attend competitions and support the bowlers in every way, building up their self-esteem and confidence.
14. Sue Evans
Sue has been a volunteer in Marske for more than 20 years. As Treasurer of Marske in Bloom, for more than five years applying for grants, she helped increase the funds, so the group was able to commission a mosaic and sculpture showing the history of Marske. Sue was also the Treasurer of Marske Community Partnership, working tirelessly on events including the Santa’s Grotto at the Christmas Festival.
15. Abbie Silivistris and Debbie Hadfield
Both spent most of last summer helping to improve the appearance of Marske Village, spending hours weeding and clearing outside of shops and businesses to make the village look great again. The people of Marske were so grateful to them.
16. Janice Motson and Debra Cockerill
Janice has been litter picking for more than 13 years in the TS6 area, she met Debra, and they do it together as friends. Going out up to six days a week, clearing bags of rubbish and all the detritus that society leaves behind, making a huge difference to their local area.
17. Andy Dmytrowich, Julie Robinson, Tyler and Marshal Cowell
A family who supports the local community by litter picking. Tyler and Marshal help clear the football field in South Bank to enable children to play football. Andy and Julie litter pick throughout the area, report fly-tipping to the council and cut the grass on the field. They want South Bank to be a cleaner place to live.
18. Friends of Green Lane
A group of local residents who look after Green Lane and the bridleway path to Marske. They give their own time, money, and resources to look after the area including litter picking, cutting back shrubbery, looking after and cleaning bird boxes, planting and many other things.
19. REAL Litter Picking Group
A dedicated group of residents who go out in all weathers litter picking and looking after the Redcar East area.
20. Sue Harrison and Gillian Gardner
Sue has been a dedicated volunteer for more than six years; she approaches every task with enthusiasm. She serves in the gift shop, hosts craft sessions, creates displays and fundraises for the site. She is constantly generating ideas to make the centre better for everyone.
Gillian has been a volunteer for more than 10 years working in the gift shop. She, together with her dog, have become beloved fixtures at the centre, serving customers, assisting with all tasks. She is an invaluable first point of contact for visitors.
21. Friends of Flatts Lane
Formed in 2007 are a team of conservation volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure the park is a great place for people and wildlife. They work alongside the council, carrying out maintenance work to ensure the park looks its best. They have also been instrumental in securing funding to provide a play area.
22. Dave Smithson (Footprints in the Community)
Dave is one of the volunteers for the charity Footprints in the Community. He has played a major role in shaping the delivery of the electrical recycling project, which has enabled the redistribution of working electrical items to those most in need in our community. Addressing financial hardship, the project has achieved significant benefits to those most disadvantaged.
23. Friends of Redcar Cemetery
Friends of Redcar Cemetery have been going for more than 20 years, working to keep the 150-year-old cemetery tidy, making it a better place to visit. They meet every Tuesday morning to maintain gardens, clean and complete general maintenance. The group also organises fundraising events. One of the recent projects included the Peter Rabbit path, improving the children’s burial area.
24. Jenny at Wellbeing Plus Redcar
A registered charity which offers craft groups and coffee mornings to people with long term health conditions, isolation, mental health issues, loneliness. The group also offers practical help and guidance for those struggling with food insecurity, depression, and financial difficulties. Jenny is passionate in helping the community.
25. Boosbeck Village Hall Volunteers
The group works hard to fundraise and organise events for the local community such as adult creative sessions, snack and chat, craft sessions, and Christmas carols. The hall offers a warm space for people to meet and come together to combat loneliness and isolation and to gain help, advice and support from volunteer and community members.
26. The Ironstone Volunteers of Lazenby
The group runs an Eco Shop on a Friday, providing a warm space and community activities such as soup and a bun, exercise sessions, book swap, and cuppa and a chat, which the whole community appreciates.
27. Christine Stubbs
Christine volunteers for Golden Boy Green South Bank and Grangetown Youth and Community Centre. She engages with the young people on various issues from youth violence to drugs to food poverty. On top of this she also helps run the Eco Shop in South Bank and is part of the events group.
28. Mark Curson
Mark helps with the youth service sessions every week. He’s a great help and has built up respect from the young people.
29. Brian Holland
Brian has been a volunteer at Kirkleatham Museum since 2013. Nothing is too much for him, he’s always willing to help and does all types of jobs. He genuinely wants to help and support the museum and its staff and visitors.
Music was provided by Alex May.