Charity awards shine a spotlight on local heroes
CELEBRATED: The HEY Charity Awards winners
By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor
Charities, grassroots community groups and volunteers from across Hull and East Yorkshire were celebrated at the inaugural HEY Charity Awards – an evening dedicated to recognising the people and organisations quietly transforming local lives every day.
Delivered by the HEY Smile Foundation, the awards brought together charities, volunteers, community champions, funders and business supporters at the MKM Stadium to showcase the creativity, commitment and impact of the region’s voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector.
With categories spanning health and wellbeing, inclusion, arts and culture, sport and active and environmental initiatives, the awards highlighted the breadth and depth of work taking place across the region.
Among the standout winners, Downright Special won the Education and Training Award for its specialist, evidence-based support helping children with Down Syndrome across Hull and the East Riding to build confidence, develop key skills and thrive in mainstream education.
Freedom Road Creative Arts received the Children and Youth Award for its long-standing work supporting young people in Hull, using dance, music and drama to build confidence, develop life skills and create lasting positive change in wellbeing and future opportunities.
Danny Watson, co-founder of CatZero, was also honoured with the Special Recognition Award for his 17 years of outstanding leadership, using offshore sailing to transform the lives of young people while generating lasting and measurable social impact.
Jamie Lewis, chief executive of HEY Smile Foundation, said: "The inaugural HEY Charity Awards were created because we recognised something important was missing. Hull and East Yorkshire has many opportunities to celebrate success, but there wasn’t a dedicated space to recognise the charities and grassroots organisations that quietly hold our communities together every day.
“These are the people supporting families through difficult times, tackling loneliness, creating opportunities and stepping up for others, often with little recognition and limited resources.
“What stood out most throughout the awards process was the incredible kindness, resilience and determination across our region.
“The hundreds of nominations we received told stories of organisations and people going above and beyond for their communities and reminded us just how much good is happening across Hull and East Yorkshire.
“At a time of increasing pressures and challenges, this sector continues to adapt, innovate and change lives. The night was about taking a moment to say thank you and celebrating the people truly making a difference.
“Behind the spirit of Hull and East Riding are ordinary people doing extraordinary things for others, every single day.”
The winners were:
Arts & Culture - Voices of Weighton
Children & Youth - Freedom Road Creative Arts
Digital Inclusion - @hullsisters
Education & Training Award - Downright Special
Environmental Award - Oldroyd's Corner
Funder of the Year - A Shining Light
Health & Wellbeing - Men in Sheds Hull
Inclusion Award - Aim Higher
Newcomer Award - @onepunchhull
Sports and Active - Will Wilson
Partnership Award - Artlink Hull and Sight Support HEY
Team of the Year - Howden Fitmums and Friends
Leader of the Year - Sally Langton, Wilberfoss Amateur Theatre Society