Your Heroes 2024 – and the winners are…

TV stars and sporting champions helped celebrate unsung individuals and groups who have transformed people’s lives across Staffordshire.

Former British middleweight boxing champion Nathan Hitman Heaney, Claybody Theatre and regimental mascot Sergeant Watchman VI along with his handler, WO Greg Hedges, were also recognised at the Your Heroes awards ceremony, which was organised at University of Staffordshire and sponsored by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, GivEducation and WoolCool.

The likes of explorer Major Levison Wood, Olympian Jazmin Sawyers, BAFTA-nominated actor Amit Shah and players from both Stoke City and Port Vale presented prizes at Festival Park’s DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel.

The awards ceremony was the culmination of a six-month campaign during which groups and individuals were nominated by people within their own community. Following a black-tie dinner, 28 awards were handed out in categories including Hero of the NHS, Child of Courage, Carer of the Year and Uniformed Hero.

An audience of more than 260 people heard stories of unconditional love, daily struggles, selflessness and determination. The evening was hosted by the Your Heroes Awards founder, Martin Tideswell, Director of Communities and Commercial Engagement at University of Staffordshire.

He said: “We are unashamedly local and proud as we celebrate the unsung heroes from across our communities. Young and old… individuals and groups… the courageous and the selfless. The very best of us.”

The first award, which was presented by University of Staffordshire Chancellor Major Levison Wood, saw three children named joint winners of the Child of Courage accolade. Wynter Farthing, who is carer for her family at the age of just eight, Declan Hall, who is a carer for his younger sister, and Mia Hughes who saved her own mum’s life, all had their moment in the spotlight.

Every Your Heroes winner received a bespoke trophy designed and created by Newcastle-under-Lyme-based engineering firm KMF Group. Child winners also received University of Staffordshire goodie bags with prizes including tickets for the Regent Theatre panto, Alton Towers tickets, Port Vale and Stoke City match day tickets and vouchers for World of Wedgwood.

Every winning or highly commended individual or group across all categories received a voucher from Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID to spend with businesses in Stoke-on-Trent city centre.

Actor Amit Shah handed over the prizes in the Future Star category, designed to recognise young people aged 21 or under who have shown progression and growth in the last 12 months with the potential to achieve greatness in the future. Care leaver Brooke Chomyn, 21, was named as the winner with highly commended prizes going to fundraiser Madison Toplass and chef Ben Haywood.

Support care worker Neelam Shahzadi was named Carer of the Year. Port Vale club captain Ben Garrity, vice-captain George Byers and club veteran Tom Pope also handed carer prizes to highly commended winners Sharon Cooke, of Woodview Nursing Home, and foster carers Jan and Pete Herbert.

Port Vale legend John Rudge presented the Community Group of the Year Prize to breast cancer support group Terrible Titties and Other Bitties. Highly commended prizes went to Period Power and Mitchell Arts Centre.

Boxer Nathan ‘Hitman’ Heaney presented the NHS Hero Award to Kirsty Lazenby, an organ donation nurse at the Royal Stoke’s Critical Care Unit. Highly commended prizes went to 80-year-old nurse Eric Dray and stroke consultant Dr Sanjeev Nayak.

Olympian Jazmin Sawyers presented the Charity Champion or Volunteer prize to 87-year-old Brian Broughton MBE who has raised more than £3 million for charity during 70 years of fundraising. Highly commended prizes went to Army veteran Trevor Bailey who works with homeless people and fundraiser Jack Marshall.

Retired technology teacher Kevin Ford, who has impacted the lives of thousands of young people during a lifetime of volunteering, won the Inspiration in Education prize which was presented by Professor Martin Jones, Vice Chancellor of University of Staffordshire. Highly commended prizes went to Kaleidoscope School in Porthill and Claire Kerry of The Neurodiversity Network.

Britain’s top test pilot, Commander Nathan Gray, presented the Uniformed Hero Award to husband and wife police officers Mark and Katy Sigley who helped save the lives of two people after stumbling across a house fire while off duty. Retired firefighters Andy Buttery and Alf Wilson plus PC Shazia Hussain were highly commended.

A standalone Beyond the Call of Duty Award was presented to officers involved in a Stoke-on-Trent incident where two young children lost their lives at the hands of their mother. The award recognised the compassion and bravery shown by the team.

The Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, Councillor Lyn Sharpe, presented a Civic Pride Award to Deb McAndrew and Conrad Nelson for their work with the nationally acclaimed Claybody Theatre. A second Civic Pride Award went to Sergeant Watchman VI, the mascot of the Staffordshire Regimental Association, and his handler WO Greg Hedges. The award was presented by the Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Ian Dudson.

The final award of the evening saw Stoke City legends Ryan Shawcross and Jon Walters present a Sporting Icon award to former British Middleweight Boxing Champion Nathan Hitman Heaney. Nathan, who is University of Staffordshire alumni, will also be inducted into the Stoke-on-Trent Sporting Hall of Fame.

Professor Martin Jones, Vice Chancellor of University of Staffordshire, said: “As a Civic University committed to improving the quality of life of people living within the county and the wider region, we hope to engage with the winners and see how we can help them on their personal journey, or work with them to bring about continued improvements for our communities.”

The evening’s musical entertainment was courtesy of singer songwriter John Dhali who also spoke about the mental health charity Shiva Trust.