HUNDREDS turned out to celebrate Newport’s unsung heroes at the fourth annual Newport Night of Honour Awards.
Organised by the King’s Church, the awards were held at the Kings Church, Lower Dock Street, on Sunday night to recognise the people of Newport who give back to the community.
Dozens of nominations were sent in to the fourth annual awards ceremony, supported by the Argus, before winners were chosen by judges Alan Brustad from Newport City Council, Sergeant Steph Blakemore from Gwent Police, young person Amy Wright and Hayley Corley from the King’s Church.
The stories of the nominated people reduced many audience members to tears, as the 11 winners were announced to around three hundred people who packed out the King’s Church.
Newport mayor Cllr Cliff Suller said: “It is an overwhelmingly great pleasure for the mayoress and myself to be in the pleasure of such company.
“To the recipients of the awards I want to send a message of thanks to you for all you have done for others.”
Comedian and singer John Archer entertained between awards, as did King’s Church singers, including Erin Macnamara, who performed especially for the event.
Winners were presented with £250 worth of Wilkinson’s gift vouchers by Wilkinson's Lesley Pike, and winner Bob Barry also received a Newport Gwent Dragons family ticket from Phil James of the Newport Gwent Dragons.
The Argus was commended for its support of the event, with winners presented with a special framed Argus front-page, highlighting their individual story.
Pastor Ray Bevan said: “Love is difficult to define but it is what the Newport Night of Honour Awards is all about”
Hayley Corley of the king's Church said: " I want to say a big thank you to all the nominees and their supporters and a huge thank you to all the staff and volunteers who made the night possible."
Night of Honour winners 2013
Great Neighbour Award
Adam & Elizabeth Howard, presented by Argus reporter Emma Mackintosh.
Mr and Mrs Howard were recognised for their selfless act of taking in a homeless neighbour who was suffering from a debilitating illness, for six weeks while they were expecting their second child.
Mr Howard said: “None of us do it for the limelight-we do it because it is about people.
“It is not about statistics it is about people.
“God has blessed us with so many things and by looking after people and by loving people we can change a nation.”
Community Organisation of the Year Award
Cymru: Against Human Trafficking. Karen Cleverly presented by Mike Nicholson, of Newport City Council.
Karen Cleverly, an IT consultant, set up the charity along with co-founder Jade Holtham, to tackle the issue of human trafficking, now the second biggest worldwide crime.
Mrs Cleverly set up the charity with the aim to continually raise awareness of trafficking to the people of Newport and South Wales.
Mrs Cleverly said: “I just want to say a big thank you for this award.
“We are quite a new charity for a horrific crime that goes on across the world, and we are raising awareness of this horrific crime that is going on in the city.
“We just need people to love more people and things like human trafficking can be eradicated.”
Volunteer of the Year
Claire Cowper presented by Dave Edwards
Mrs Cowper has been running the popular music group ‘Sounds Fun’, at St Anne’s Church, Rogerstone, for the past 13 years.
The group for newborn babies and toddlers aims to engage children in learning through music.
Mrs Cowper said: “This is totally unexpected.
“Carole and I have done his for 13 years.
“We do it for the kids, for the mums and for all the families that come.”
The Youth Champion Award
Chelsea Richards, Joseph Burton, Joshua Wood, presented by Cliff Suller.
Joseph Burton, 17, and Josh Wood, 17, have been nominated for the Young Champion of the Year award for their volunteer work in running the Kings Generation Youth on a Friday night.
The pair runs the youth provision for over 70 people, which aims to deliver a program which incorporates games, group work, teaching and workshops.
Joseph said: “Thank you for the award.
“It has been an awesome year and it has been incredible all the stuff we have done.
“It is really cool to be part of the church and God has really blessed me.”
Chelsea Richards, of Duffryn, also received the award.
She has been volunteering in the community for the past four years with the aim to get children in the community involved in sport.
The 17 year old commits over 20 hours of voluntary work in the community and five hours a week at her school, getting young people involved in projects such as Community Dance.
Chelsea said: “My time at Duffryn has been amazing and I have met so many people.”
Parent of the Year
Amanda Callaghan presented by Pastor Ray Bevan
Amanda Callaghan, 40, of Newport, founded the Newport Autism Support Group in 2010 after two of her sons were diagnosed with Asperger’s, a form of Autism.
After the diagnosis of her son Oliver, 13, in 2009, the mother of-six did an EarlyBird Plus course and was shocked that after a child reached eight years old, the support stopped.
She decided to set up her own support group for parents like herself along with the help of volunteer Nicola Davies, 38, of Bettws.
Public Service Superhero
Anthony Trigg- presented by Sergeant Steph Blakemore of Gwent Police
Anthony Trigg, 47, of Newport, has worked as a caretaker and site manager at Eveswell Primary School for the past five years making sure the school runs smoothly and to keep the children are smiling.
Mr Trigg said: “I didn’t expect this award.
“It is a job to me but when I see those children coming in on a morning- if a little high-five works to put a smile on their faces then I will do that every day for them.”
The Above and Beyond Award
Bob Barry presented by Lesley Pike from Wilkinson’s
Bob Barry, learning co-ordinator for Communities First Newport West cluster at Duffryn Community Link, was recognised for the support he has given to the community over the years.
“We were the first organisation to get involved in the Jesus cares organisation, because it is really all about the people.
“It is the people that make the difference in all walks of life.
“We are very proud of our organisation and we have some fantastic people there.”
Newport’s Braveheart Award
Jackie Lewis- presented by John Archer
Mrs Lewis has been campaigning for St David's since her son, lifeguard Steven Lewis, sadly died aged 31 of stomach cancer in December 2011.
Within four months of Mr Lewis' death, Mrs Lewis decided that she would do something positive that Mr Lewis would be proud of and decided that she would campaign and fundraise in aid of St David's.
Mrs Lewis said: “I am passionate about St David’s.
“It started off with a fancy dress walk and we have now raised £18,500 for St David’s.
“Without St David’s the last three and a half weeks of my son’s life would have been grotesque.”
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