THE Pride of St Helens awards are to take place this Friday night in a celebration of the borough's community heroes.

There will be prizes awarded in 11 categories on the night at Saints' stadium.

Here are the three nominees for the main award - The Solarcrown Pride of St Helens.

 

The Chrysalis Centre

THE Chrysalis Centre is women’s mental health charity who provide a range of support services.

These include a Professional Counselling service, Supported Drop-in, Confidence and Assertion Courses, Stress Management Course, Domestic Abuse Support Service and a CBT-led Positive Me Programme.

They encourages and empowers women of all ages who are or have been victims of domestic abuse or have mental health issue.

The team of staff and volunteers do so much to encourage and uplift others that service users nominated them because they believe even more people should know of their hard work and dedication.

 

Carley Stenson

WEST End star Carley Stenson may have been wowing audiences in the role of Fantine in Les Miserables – but she has never forgotten her roots and has worked to help nurture the next generation of local talent.

The Billinge-born actress, who is also shortlisted in the Arts award category, has been performing since a young age. She played Steph Cunningham in soap Hollyoaks between 2000 and 2011.

Previously she has enjoyed West End roles including Princess Fiona in Shrek: The Musical; Elle Woods in Legally Blonde: The Musical and as The Lady of The Lake in Spamalot.

And Carley has never forgotten her roots. She hosts workshops to help young budding actors of the next generation.

Carley shared her knowledge with up and coming talent and held workshops, including at Winstanley College, with co-star by Bobby Delaney. In these, Carley has taken part in question-and-answer sessions to pass on advice.

She has also helped the youngsters develop their own skills through games and performance.

 

James Roby

JAMES Roby again led by example in a 15th season in Super League with Saints ­— and that was recognised by his winning of the Rugby League Writers and Broadcasters Player of the Year and a shortlisting for the Steve Prescott Man of Steel.

A regular 80 minute man, the 32-year-old hooker came into the year off the back of a strong World Cup with England in Australia.

Noted for his voracious appetite for work in defence, decision making at dummy half and his devastating runs, Roby remains the best nine in Super League despite there being plenty of competition.

In his first season as captain Saints won the League Leaders Shield, but fell at the semi-final hurdle in the Challenge Cup and Super League.

The former Blackbrook Royals junior always gives 100 per cent ­— and gave his all at the back end of the campaign despite suffering a debilitating shoulder injury, which needed surgery at the end of the season.

Roby has set such a consistently high benchmark for such a long time now that his performances are almost taken for granted.