Hartlepool Heroes awards return with inspirational night.

mikewalker563
11 minutes ago
3 min read

The historic Borough Hall on the Headland was buzzing with emotion and pride as around 300 people gathered for the return of the Hartlepool Heroes awards.

After a hiatus last year while the venue underwent repairs, the third Heroes proved to be an unforgettable evening, shining a spotlight on the extraordinary and selfless individuals who make Hartlepool a special place.

BBC Tees presenter Gary Philipson hosted the evening with his charismatic brilliance, guiding the audience through a ceremony filled with inspiring stories of local champions during a night organised by local charity The PFC Trust in partnership with Hartlepool Borough Council and Hartlepool Carers.

The fourteen award winners included Thomas Lynn in the Young Carer of the Year category, while Micky Day collected the Lifetime Achievement award for his role in creating the Miles for Men charity.

Chizaram Ochuba Okafor (Zara), the remarkable 12-year-old who has brought pride to the town with her incredible talent and determination, starring in major productions such as Oliver and Tina Turner, was voted the People’s Choice.

Each winner received a trophy, a certificate and a £500 donation to a cause of their choice.

Frances Connolly, founder of The PFC Trust, said: “What a night. I have been so emotional throughout it all, beyond belief.

“It has been a brilliant occasion and supported by unbelievable sponsors, with some like Orangebox Training Solutions even donating extra prizes. I am just so delighted with the number of sponsors, and people who have supported Hartlepool Heroes this year.

"There are so many people who have been nominated, and it was almost impossible to judge because any single one of them could have been a worthy winner. It makes me so proud that a night like this can highlight so much of what is fantastic about Hartlepool, our town.”

The awards – which also included a moving tribute to the volunteers in the room from Jonathan Brash, Hartlepool MP - celebrated the diverse and remarkable contributions of the town's unsung heroes.

Brenda Harrison, leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, said. "This is the first time I have been to Hartlepool Heroes and it is a fabulous event.

“A night such as this really represents and celebrates the people of Hartlepool and how great some of the work people do - not by chance but by the real nature of the people helping other people, caring for them and making Hartlepool the place it is.

“There are a lot of people behind the people being nominated, so it is a celebration of the whole of Hartlepool and how great we are as a town. We don’t hear those stories enough and we need to hear them more."

Christine Fewster, CEO of Hartlepool Carers, was also touched by the stories that were told in the room, particularly for her organisation which deals with challenging situations daily.

She said: “It is really important to celebrate the amazing people in our community, there are so many people that deserve these awards.

"I am still buzzing from the night, seeing all of the community come together, and I still feel energised by it all, and the power of bringing people together for a night like that.

"We deal with a lot of our community on a daily basis so to hear what people have done for the community is really humbling to be part of it and to help people, when they are having dark days and to see those people come out the other side it genuinely feels amazing.

“There are so many amazing people in the town and we need to make sure we shout about these amazing people in Hartlepool."

This year's ceremony featured an expanded 14 award categories, an increase of three from previous years, reflecting the diverse contributions being made across the town.

The deserving recipients of the 2025 Hartlepool Heroes Awards are:

Creative Trailblazer Award: Lyndsey Turner

Creativity in the Community Award: Wintertide Festival

Community Champion: Terry Hegarty

Emergency Services Champion: Geoffrey Coggin

Green Community Champion: ReLoved Clothing

Sports for Development Award: Craig Read

Teacher of the Year: Lauren Furness

Youth Worker of the Year in memory of Sue Rowley: Sami Younger

Volunteer of the Year: Lynn Kearney

Young Carer of the Year (U17s): Thomas Lynn

Young Adult Carer of the Year (Aged 18-24): Grace Somerville-Wray