THE first round of choosing the winners of this year’s Proud of Barnsley Awards is now complete with the publication of the shortlist.

We received around 500 nominations this year and from those, the shortlists have been drawn up.

Next week, we begin filming the video stories of all the finalists which will be used to help decide who wins the exclusive trophies.

And for the first time, Chronicle readers will be able to help pick the winners. So who would you choose..?

Young Superstar

Harley Charlesworth

Five-year-old Harley has become an online sensation, earning a prestigious YouTube Silver Play Button for his popular children’s horror videos.

Max Emeny

The 16-year-old took on a skydive to celebrate his birthday, raising cash to help a team of kickboxers attend a prestigious tournament in Austria. Freddie Davies

Freddie, 14, shaved his head in solidarity with his mother who was undergoing cancer treatment and raised more than £2,500 for the hospital’s chemotherapy ward in the process.

School of the Year

Hoyland Springwood Primary

The primary school has received praise from parents and the local community for its commitment to supporting all students, regardless of their individual needs.

Worsbrough Common Primary

This local school that can proudly claim that 26 languages are spoken within its premises and has been recognised for its supportive learning environment and inclusive community.

Meadstead Primary Academy

A primary school that has faced challenges in recent years has made significant strides towards improvement, raising their Ofsted grade from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘good’ in the past few years.

Children’s Champion

Ron and Barbara Cooper

Retired couple Ron and Barbara Cooper have been running playgroups for over 15 years, providing a valuable service to families in Gawber.

Martin and Jackie Sawdon

The Exodus Project began as a single youth club, but has grown into a vital community resource over the past 24 years thanks to dedicated founders, Martin and Jackie Sawdon.

Sara Greenfield

Sara runs the Dearne Kids Youth Club, which she attended when she was younger yet she says the work is not a challenge, as the wheelchair user who faces many health issues is inspired every day to go out and look after the kids in her area.

Sporting Achievement

Calvin Betton

Despite coaching some of the world’s best tennis players, including Henry Patten, the men’s doubles champion at Wimbledon, Calvin always enjoys returning home to Barnsley.

Vanessa Ndambakuwa

With dreams of competing in the Olympics in 2028, 15-year-old sprinter Vanessa has already won gold in the 300m at the UK Schools Games a victory that adds to her impressive collection of medals this year, including silver at the English Schools Games and gold at the English Championships.

Imogen Wolff

Silkstone Common cyclist Imogen Wolff has signed with a professional Dutch team after winning three world championship medals this year. They included two golds on the track.

Exceptional Achievement

Jackie Walker and Chris Niven

Two supermarket employees were hailed as heroes after saving the life of a baby who had swallowed his tongue Jackie and Chris rushed to the aid of the one-year-old child, providing lifesaving assistance until paramedics arrived.

Desiree Peters

Care home nurse Desiree will forever be known as an ‘angel’ to one family, after she saved the life of a two-year-old girl who suffered a serious medical episode.

Clare Hackett-Eager

Grieving mother Clare gained 50,000 signatures as part of her petition to raise awareness and funds for Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that claimed the life of her son.

Carer

Helen Love

Helen packed up her life and moved back home to care for her 86-year-old mother with dementia and is committed to providing her mother with the best possible quality of life.

Angela Taylor

Angela is no stranger to awards, being the first nurse at Barnsley Hospital to win the Cavell Star Award in recognition of her exceptional care for young Sophia Jane Clarke, who passed away after battling complex health issues.

Joseph David

Through his company Crossroads, Joseph has been caring for carers providing the support that in-home carers need to continue doing their work.

Fundraising Team

Corner Pin

Friends and family gathered around Jyneen Haughie, who runs the Corner Pin pub, after her sister Clareese died from epilepsy through fundraising events they managed to raise more than £12,000 for the Epilepsy Society.

Eaden’s Bar

Owner of Eaden’s Bar, Mia Eaden, has used connections from her father former Barnsley FC player Nicky Eaden to raise nearly £10,000 for local charities through a series of events featuring former football players.

Crown and Anchor

Regular Tom Allot made a bet that he couldn’t go without cutting his hair or shaving for a whole year and thanks to the team at the pub who have run regular fundraising activities in the past to raise £5,000 for Barnsley Hospital he managed to donate an extra £500 to the charity.

Community Hero

James Ball

Healthcare professional James has been recognised for his exceptional work in increasing referrals to a diabetes prevention programme and has helped many people in the community to live healthier lives.

Paul Heritage

Goalkeeping coach Paul has raised thousands of pounds for various causes, including Barnsley Hospice and Weston Park Cancer Charity and inspired his students to give back to the community, making a significant impact on the lives of many people.

Rachael Addy

Rachael recently conquered her fear of flying by completing a skydive to raise money for the residents of Deangate Care Home, where she works as care home activities co-ordinator and is seen by residents as a real-life superhero.

Love Where You Live

Wendy Ogley

Ever since her daughter died 25 years ago, Wendy has dedicated her time to keeping the graveyard she’s buried in clean.

Goldthorpe Railway Embankment Group

The group has turned a disused railway cutting in Goldthorpe that had become a fly-tipping hotspotand was becoming a health hazard into a green space by clearing out more than 40 skips worth of rubbish.

Autism Allotments

Run by Michael and Paul Atwal-Brice, the loving dads of autistic twins, the allotment provides a safe and welcoming space for individuals with additional needs.

Green Hero

The Trans Pennine Trail

The 370-mile trail, run by only three people out of Barnsley Council, has received numerous nominations for its accessibility and community engagement.

Two Gates Fisheries

Owner Craig Butcher dedicated himself to a net zero goal for this beloved local restaurant, embracing every opportunity that came his way to make the establishment more eco-friendly.

Barnsley Main Heritage Group

A small team of community volunteers have worked to transform the former mining site, protecting the natural environment, whilst supporting and preserving local history.

Volunteer

Jordan Bunney

Jordan Bunney has been actively involved in various community initiatives, including litter picking, park maintenance and local government engagement.

Martin Ackers

Martin, who survived cancer himself, is now giving back to his community by volunteering as a driver for Weston Park Cancer Charity.

Andrew Fowler

Camaraderie has inspired veteran Andrew to overcome his own issues as he volunteers countless hours a week to support those struggling to adapt back to civilian life.

Charity Fundraiser

Tim Fleming

Tim, a veteran himself, cycled across war memorials in France as part of a fundraising challenge for Help for Heroes.

Oliver Simon Pike

To support his wife, who was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier in the year, Oliver committed to undertaking a gruelling 15-part fundraising challenge for Breast Cancer Now.

Amanda Glover

When her daughter was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, Amanda went above and beyond to make sure all young people whose lives have been destroyed by the disease feel supported.

Charity Group

Shaw Lane Foundation

The charity foundation is providing opportunities for people in the community who may be struggling or disadvantaged and offers a variety of activities, including a learning disability disco, employability projects, and heritage initiatives.

AMC FC New Lodge

After losing a friend to mental health, Phillip Atherton founded the charity football club to raise funds for the men’s mental health and wellbeing charity Andy’s Man Club.

Grassroots Sports Academy

Grassroots offers a variety of programmes, including summer camps for children and community outreach initiatives in support of their goal to make sports accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation or abilities.

Triumph Over Adversity

Frank Senior

When a stroke stole his ability to speak, Frank found a way to overcome his communication difficulties by developing his own technology-based solutions.

Caroline Buckle

Caroline, a veteran who was medically discharged after suffering injuries that left her wheelchair-bound, has now been selected to represent England in the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships.

Brynn Westwood

The community of Royston has rallied around Brynn, who suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy leaving him only able to move his fingers and hold his head up, yet still volunteers at a local community centre where brings joy to the lives of others.

Hospital Hero

Luke Callaghan

Barnsley Hospital porter Luke doesn’t stop working when he finishes his shift, as he has thrown himself into a variety of fundraising activities to raise money for the hospital charity.

Monica Owen

Monica, a Barnsley Hospital switchboard worker, saved the life of a newborn who had stopped breathing in May after she recognised the signs of jaundice her quick actions helped the baby recover.

Barnsley Hospital Volunteers

A 15-strong group of dedicated volunteers has spent over 2,500 hours helping Barnsley Hospital Charity and raised £12,524 through fundraising activities.

Community Group

Superjam

For ten years, this monthly tea party has been providing a social space for older people in Barnsley, attracting around 100 attendees each month for the entertainment-filled event.

Met Band

The brass band has been going strong for 50 years now and just this year has won the Yorkshire Championship and competed in national championships in Cheltenham.

Man V Fat

A unique football league focused on weight loss and health has been gaining popularity as they combine football matches with weekly weigh-ins to encourage a healthier lifestyle.