THE wait is over here are the Proud of Barnsley finalists of 2018.
Congratulations to everyone who has made it on to this year’s shortlist.
We believe everyone who makes our town a better place to live and work deserves recognition even if they don’t.
And you obviously agreed we were inundated with some wonderful stories ranging from people’s kindness to each other, their passions and hard work, and their generosity in raising so much money for charity.
Given so many heart-warming and inspiring stories, it was a difficult to whittle down the nominations in each category.
We’d love to give everyone an award, but sadly there can only be three finalists in each category.
So what happens next?
All finalists in each category are required to take part in recorded interviews which will take place at the Metrodome. These short films along with the nominations will be used by an independent judging panel when selecting the winners. They will also be screened on the evening of the awards ceremony.
Finalists will be contacted in due course to arrange the filming of the interviews.
All finalists will be invited to the ceremony, on November 16 at the Metrodome, and will receive two free tickets.
Groups will receive four tickets. Extra tickets can be bought separately.
Here’s the shortlist...
Young Superstar: Sponsored by Barnsley CollegeReggie Cartwright - Young Reggie raised £250 for Barnsley Hospice by holding a lemonade stall.
Ava Ramsden - When Ava’s dad died, she found comfort in a teddy bear, and raised money to help children in similar situations.
Linden Murray - Linden is passionate about wildlife and the environment, and spent his birthday dredging out a dilapidated canal.
School: Sponsored by South Yorkshire Police and Crime CommissionerBurton Road Primary - The school this year received its best ever Ofsted report, which highlighted a positive learning culture and the school’s vibrant, happy environment.
Meadstead Primary Academy - The school has been nominated by several parents for helping children with special educational needs, behavioural issues, autism, and other personal issues.
Darton College - Toni Morgan could barely read or write and had no self confidence in her first year, but teachers helped her transform her life.
Children’s Champion: Sponsored by BurrowsJackie Guest (Meadstead Primary Academy) - For 25 years, Jackie has supported children and families at Meadstead dealing with significant trauma, grief, illness, depression and has always done so with a smile on her face.
Stewart McShane (Silkstone Football Coaching School) - Stewart has helped run Silkstone Football Coaching School for 23 seasons.
John Tumman - John and his father Ged opened their first Karate Club in 1978 with less than ten students. Now, John teaches up to three sessions a day, alongside weekend events, training courses, summer camps, school classes and charity events.
Love Where You Live: Sponsored by Love Where You LiveOwd’ Martha’s Yard - The community garden in Hoyland is the only one open to anyone to go and enjoy its beauty and peacefulness. It is maintained by volunteers and regular gardening sessions are held.
Gemma Nemer - Gemma transformed the village of Elsecar for the Tour de Yorkshire which brought in lots of tourism, both on the day and in the weeks afterwards.
Robert Cox - Robert helped form the Brierley Residents’ Group after the town council was disbanded and has helped sustain a community spirit and healthy environment for people to live in.
Carer: Sponsored by the NPS GroupJoanne Naylor - Joanne cared for her daughter Aalish for more than two years before she died of cancer and was by her side through all the tests, needles and scans.
Michelle Ryder - Michelle’s son William has a number of complex medical problems which have left him unable to talk. He suffers from epilepsy, loss of vision in one eye, can only walk short distances and is tube-fed.
Charlotte and Chloe Kitson - The two youngsters help their parents care for their younger sister Emily, who has a rare genetic condition called Rett Syndrome.
Sporting Achievement: Sponsored by PerrysLauren Fretwell - Lauren won a bronze at the European Junior Karate Championships. She’s won lots of British and English titles and is also going for the Olympics.
Joe Ferguson - The 100m and 200m runner from Darton has been called up for England and Great Britain under 20s and won his age group at the Yorkshire and North of England Championships. He also reached the semi-finals of the senior British Championships and wants to go to the Olympics
Katherine Brunt - Cricketer Katherine became England’s top wicket-taker of all-time this summer.
Start-up: Sponsored by Haywood and PadgettRainbow Bridge Pet Crematorium - Losing a pet can be a grief-filled time for the whole family. Rainbow Bridge is dedicated to helping people with their loss.
Wool Couture Company - The designer and retailer of luxury yarns and wool DIY kits, has opened its first shop in Brierley.
The Old George - The former Pollyanna building is now an independent coffee house serving breakfast, brunch and cakes.
Exceptional Achievement: Sponsored by ASOSAdam and Katie Dengel - They created artificial limbs using a 3D printer set up in their bedroom for their son Tommy who was born with no right hand, and they went on to form The LimbBo Foundation.
John Sagar - John has been involved in boxing for much of his life, as an amateur and professional fighter, and now as a trainer at Barnsley Star ABC.
Mick Barker - Mick rediscovered his love of racewalking after 15 years of caring for his wife following two strokes. He represented Great Britain at the World Masters Championships in Malaga and finished fourth in the over 80s 5km track walk.
Volunteer: Sponsored by Kier Julie Brown (Butterflies Dementia Support and Activities Group) - Julie founded the group after giving up her job in a school to care for her father with dementia. She runs the group almost single-handedly, with the invaluable support of project workers and a co-ordinator.
Ernie Heseltine - Ernie retired from cricket this season after a knee injury caught up with him. He encourages youngsters to take up the sport and prepares a fine cricket wicket, making Houghton Main the venue of choice for many representative matches including Yorkshire Schoolboys.
Megan Allen (TADS) - Megan was in desperate need of help for anxiety and depression when she approached TADS. She now volunteers every spare hour and offers one-to-one sessions to young people with mental health issues.
Charity Fundraising Team: Sponsored by Henry Boot ConstructionSarah’s Goal - Sarah’s Goal was launched with money raised in memory of Sarah Hanson Powell who died of breast cancer. It helps children and teenagers play football by providing kit and contributing towards subs.
Gavin Coles and Steve Gilbert - The pair took part in a series of crazy challenges such as triathlons, a ten-mile Santa-dash and mud and obstacle runs to raise money for Barnsley Hospice which cared for Gavin’s wife’s nannan.
Sonique Smith and Sharon Adams of Clubbercise - The duo run a Clubbercise fitness class and have held two charity events to raise money for a youngster with a life-limiting condition, and for Barnsley Hospice.
Community Hero: Sponsored by Smart Door SolutionsKayla Kavanagh and Neil Lockwood - The pair set up Les Cadeaux, a pottery painting shop in Darton, which has grown over the past five years to become a safe haven for mums, people with learning disabilities, children and babies. It is also a breastfeeding-friendly venue.
Bruce Dyer - The former Barnsley FC player has committed much of his time to redeveloping Grimethorpe Miners’ Welfare Sports Ground in to a community hub.
Peter Winks - Peter’s stables in Middlecliffe have been setting the world of jump racing alight. He’s had 29 winners in the last five years, but he’s also spent time helping two men to turn their lives around and forge careers.
Hospital Hero: Sponsored by Barnsley HospitalStroke Unit - Staff on the ward made it possible for Jack Baker who had no immediate family to spend his dying days with his beloved pet dog, Perry.
Ward 17 - The ward was nominated by a patient who had a pacemaker fitted, and said everyone from consultants to cleaners were kind, professional and couldn’t do enough for him.
Casualty team - Staff in the emergency department treat critically ill patients 24/7. They often have to deal with additional pressures such as bad weather and staff sickness.
Community Group: Sponsored by Voluntary Action BarnsleyBarnsley Men in Sheds - The project provides carpentry and wood-turning activities for older men who want to get together and learn new skills in the man-friendly space of a shed.
Sporting Penistone - The group has reopened and manages Penistone Leisure Centre, which is now a home for sport, community events and leisure pursuits.
Barnsley Gymnastics Club - The club has had regular success in competitions with several gymnasts being called into Yorkshire squads.
Charity Fundraiser: Sponsored by XPO LogisticsBob Woodcock - Bob has raised £7,000 for charities by riding from Land’s End to John O’Groats every year for several years.
Sandra Salisbury - Sandra, who has Parkinson’s Disease, was arranging a charity fundraiser with her husband John when he died suddenly. She vowed to make it a success in his memory.
Duncan Owen-Elmer - Duncan is a volunteer for Macmillan Cancer Support. He has given more than 285 hours of his time to collect money and has raised more than £19,000 so far.
Triumph over Adversity: Sponsored by Northern College
Huw Davies - Huw is blind and hard of hearing but he and his guide dog Hunter have become familiar faces around the Metrodome gym where staff have helped him lose nine stones.
Luke Palfreyman - Luke was on the donor recipient list for 18 months and became seriously ill before receiving a double lung transplant. He now has a new outlook on life and is looking to build his future.
Paul Kenny - Paul was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given just 18 months live. He and partner Jessica married last month after friends and family rallied to organise the wedding.
