IN the year that the Angel of the North celebrates its 20th anniversary, Gateshead has honoured some real-life angels who go the extra mile to help others.

The Gateshead Awards take place annually to recognise the contribution of those who dedicate their time to making Gateshead a better place from carers to volunteers, sports achievers to community organisations.

Mayor of Gateshead, Councillor Pauline Dillon, said: “It’s a huge honour to host this event as all of the nominees are an inspiration to me, and I imagine, to everyone who lives in Gateshead. It’s incredibly important that Gateshead residents are given the opportunity to thrive and all of our winners are helping people to do this by dedicating themselves to their local community. I would like to congratulate everyone nominated.”

Eleven-year-old Thea Jeffares, Young Carer of the Year, is an inspiration to many. While still at primary school Thea helps to care for her brother, is captain of her football team at Leam Rangers and volunteers with her mother for SWAN UK making friends with siblings of children with undiagnosed genetic conditions.

Other young people honoured at the awards were Ellie Wilson, a boxer with Leam Lane Amateur Boxing Club, who won the Maureen Chaplin Young Sports Achiever and Laura Hillary was awarded Young Achiever of the Year for her involvement with groups at Gateshead Central Library.

Michael Wade was voted Volunteer of the Year for his role with Guidepost and Carer of the Year Linda Bennett was recognised for the care she continues to give to her three grandsons.

Two organisations – Friends of Felling Park and Town Centre and Felling Magpies Football Club – both won awards which recognised the significant impact they continue to have on their local community. The Magpies had more than one success on the night with Karl Boyd winning Sports Coach of the Year for his work with young footballers up to the age of 18.

Jonathan Brown, an athlete with Special Olympics who secured a gold and silver medal at the Special Olympics Yorkshire and Humberside athletics championships and won a gold medal at the Special Olympics Great Britain National Games, was also successful winning Sports Achiever of the Year.

Two lifetime achievement awards were presented to Kay Parker, an active volunteer and board member with Healthwatch Gateshead since its inception in 2008; and to Bob Pinkerton who has raised £85,000 for local charities and children’s hospitals over 25 years.

A special award was also given out on the night to Stan Fannan, Tommy Nicholson and Bob Allen, members of the Gateshead Armed Forces Veterans Association.

And the winners are:

Young Carer of the Year – Thea Jeffares

Maureen Chaplin Young Sports Achiever of the Year – Ellie Wilson

Volunteer of the Year – Michael Wade

Voluntary or Charitable Organisation – Friends of Felling Park & Town Centre

Young Achiever of the Year – Laura Hillary

Sports Club of the Year - Felling Magpies Football Club

Sports Coach of the Year – Karl Boyd, Felling Magpies Football Club

Sports Achiever – Jonathan Brown

Carer of the Year – Linda Bennett

Lifetime Achievement Awards – Bob Pinkerton and Kay Parker

Special Recognition Award – Stan Fannan, Tommy Nicholson and Bob Allen, from Gateshead Armed Forces Veterans Association.