SIX people have been declared "community champions" for their work to help others in North Yorkshire.

Their work with charities has helped to improve the lives of hundreds of people, including home carers, young people, patients at York Hospital, parents with learning difficulties and the homeless.

They were given the title at the fifth community champions awards ceremony, which is backed by the Department for Education and Skills, and will receive up to £2,000 each for their charities.

Barbara Milner, chairman of York Carers Together, was one of the six winners.

She organised a new peer advocacy network to support family carers of people with learning difficulties.

The others included Ivy Eden, of Huntington, York, who produces a Saturday show for York Hospital Radio and has been involved in charity work since she was 15.

Jennifer Clare teaches driving skills to younger people in her rural community near Easingwold while Michelle Duffy, of York, formed People First 2000, a support group for parents with learning disabilities.

Damian Colman, of Harrogate, was commended for his drama project work with homeless people and Raymond Forward, also of Harrogate, was crowned a community champion for setting up a new residents' association and bi-monthly newsletter in his home district.

The awards were presented at a ceremony in Leeds, hosted by BBC TV presenter Harry Gration.

Steven Nesbit, of the Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "The community champions fund helps individuals, often through training and networks, to turn their ideas into reality by driving forward a variety of community projects, supporting others and making a real difference to people."