Good Neighbour Winner- Doreen Cartwright

Bridgehall-based Doreen has become a much-loved and central part of her local community. Always there to assist her neighbours, Doreen arranges prizes for bingo nights, scout meetings and school parties for those around her as well as helping out with the schoolruns. She also works as a caretaker for the Bridgehall Community Centre and gives up much of her time to help voluntary groups that meet there. Julie Whitehouse, one of several nominators for Doreen, says, “She really is a gem and is well-known and loved by all people from this area. She is truly amazing!”

Green & Glorious Winner- Bridgehall Kids Club Junior Rangers

Nominated by the Stockport Community Recycling Team, Bridgehall Kids Club Junior Rangers have consistently strived to keep their local environment clean and green.

The children give up their Saturday mornings to volunteer for the group, taking part in litter picking and recycling waste around Stockport. Going a step further, they even aim to plant new flowers on the areas that they have cleaned, meaning that they not only restore public places but also strive to improve them, helping to benefit the entire community.

Sports Personality of the Year - Robert Downs (Sponsored by Stockport Sports Trust)

Robert Downs was nominated in the Sports Personality category several times for his hard work in getting the people of Stockport running!

Since April 2008 he has voluntarily organised a free weekly 5km race around Bramhall Park, getting people of all ages and ability levels running. Promoting healthy exercise and community spirit, the run has been a massive success, attracting over 100 runners to the park each week. As one nominator, Catherine Mee, says, ”Different generations of families run together, old friends meet and new friends are made. This is all down to Rob’s hard work, superb organisational skills, unfailing kindness and huge enthusiasm.”

Volunteering Champions - Cheadle Heath Community Association

Serving the community for over 30 years, the Cheadle Heath Community Association truly impressed the judges with its endless support for the people of the area.

Helping people from all walks of life, the association and its volunteers run regular activities and events for everything from Children in Need to National Poetry Day. With money raised from such events they have helped improve the area physically too, with a new garden area in Gorsey Bank Park. n top of all this, the association also makes its home, The Pavilion, available for the use of other local support groups, helping to benefit the community in every way imaginable.

Community Spirited Business –The Colour Room

Brothers Sean and James Tetlow, from The Colour Room, go the extra mile when it comes to supporting cancer patients, leading to them winning the Community-Spirited Business award.

Hair loss can be one of the hardest things to deal with during a fight with the disease, so to help patients get through it they offer wig styling, scalp products and advice for free. They also work directly with Macmillan Cancer Support at Macclesfield Hospice,helping other sufferers come to terms with their hair loss. As their nominator says, “When you are going through treatment they are a breath of fresh air.”
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Best Street- Sykes Meadow, Edgeley (Sponsored by Solutions SK)

Before moving to Sykes Meadow, Dorothy Roman had all the usual worries about the area. What would her neighbours be like? Would she feel safe? Would she feel at home? Fortunately for her, the road in Edgeley proved to be a winner. Residents put an incredible amount of effort into caring for their gardens and the neighbourhood in general and
everyone is always on the lookout for ways to help out those in need. Dorothy says of the street, “As I am now in my mid-seventies I am glad to have found a place where people are so genuinely caring.”

Children’s Champions- Joe Pienaar & Inge Challinor

Between them, Joe and Inge have worked tirelessly to help the children of a struggling neighbourhood turn their lives around. For three years they have run a youth club for the area, organizing BBQs, outings and other activities.

The Cherry Tree Estate in Romiley is a small council estate that is surrounded by affluent
neighbourhoods, resulting in it missing out on funding that similar areas get. Inge has
addressed the educational needs of the community, trying to improve lives with the help
of council officers, while Joe has been a church youth volunteer.

Cllr Hazel Lees, who nominated the pair, says, “Even the police say that they have noticed
the difference being made; several adolescents have managed some.".

Life Changing- Craig Mills

Having left school with no qualifications and an addiction to drugs, Craig Mills could have spiralled out of control but instead managed to turn his life around, making him the perfect winner for the Life Changing award. Working hard to change his ways, Craig dedicated himself to voluntary work, helping those with drug and alcohol problems. He also volunteers at Stockport College and organizes events for young people from the area.

His mother Michelle, who nominated him, says, “I am so proud of him, he is a very caring
person and he definitely deserves an award.”

Ambassador for Stockport- Peter Roberts (Sponsored by Pure Radio)

Peter is principal of Stockport College, and during his time there  the institution has gone from strength to strength, leading to his nomination for the prestigious Ambassador for Stockport award. The college has become recognised with both ‘outstanding’ and ‘beacon’ status, leading to international recognition. Peter has also orchestrated visits to Europe and the USA to showcase work from students of the college, further spreading awareness of the

Stockport area. On top of his duties as principal, Peter sits on three national committees, three Greater Manchester committees and a whole host of Stockport committees, such as Stockport Stepping Hill Hospital and the Chamber of Commerce. David Hopkins OBE, who nominated Peter for the award, says, “Peter is someone who goes the extra mile for Stockport and would be a worthy recipient of the ambassadorial award.”

Citizen of the Year- Margaret Brown (Sponsored by Stockport Express)

At almost 80 years of age, Margaret Brown has spent her life dedicated to helping others in and around Stockport, making her a fine recipient of the Citizen of the Year award. Her exemplary CV of voluntary work includes seven years guiding visitor groups around Styal Mill, ten years at St Ann’s Hospice and around eight years helping children at the Royal School for the Deaf in Cheadle Hulme. Nominated by her brother Alistair McNab, she has proven time and time again that she will go as far as it takes to help those in need.

Young Citizen of the Year- Rebecca Humphries (Sponsored by BAE Systems)

Nominator Alex Bone from Youth Action Stockport described winner Rebecca as a “serial volunteer” and with good reason. At the age of onl 17 she already has a vast history of helping others in the community. From helping out at youth clubs to sitting on Stockport Council’s Youth Opportunity Fund panel she has offered her help to anyone who needs it. She mentors younger children and has also been on her school council and charity committee for the last two years. Alex Bone says, “It is her diversity of community volunteering that makes Rebecca stand out from the other young volunteers that we have worked with over the past 12 months.”

Young Citizen of the Year- Lucy Smith, Highly Commended (Sponsored by BAE Systems)

The judges felt that special mention had to be reserved for 16-year-old Lucy, who raised over £10,000 for the Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention Centre with a fundraising night. Spurred on after her mother was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer, she managed to secure over 40 raffle and auction prizes to help bring in the cash and even hit the Manchester Evening News headlines for her efforts. Janice Banks, Lucy’s aunt and nominator, says, “I feel she truly deserves an award for her bravery and sheer determination.”