PRIDE OF ST HELENS: Nominees for the 2019 Young Community Star Award

In this week's paper (out now in shops for just 50p) we published a 16-page supplement profiling each of the shortlisted nominees for this year's ceremony.

Throughout this week and next ahead of the event at the Totally Wicket Stadium, we will be sharing our categories of nominees with you.

Here are your nominees for 2019 Young Community Star Award sponsored by JC Kitchens

Oliver Reece-Woods

OLLY, from Laffak, had a difficult time at his previous high school where his mum Lisa Woods says he was labelled as “naughty and problematic”.

But after switching to Rainford High, Oliver blossomed and turned his focus to creating a positive future for himself and others – by launching his own clothing line Oliver Jude Clothing.

With help from MD Productions and support from his family, Oliver now has t-shirts available with positive messages on them such as ‘I am Joy’, ‘Believe in Yourself ’ and more.

St Helens firm hivis.co.uk Elite Industrial Supplies decided to help after reading Ollie’s story in the St Helens Star and since then his t-shirts – and now hoodies – have been popping up everywhere spreading joy.

The now 15-year-old most recently showed off his tshirt and hoodie line Oliver Jude Clothing at Liverpool Fashion Week last month and dreams that one day his designs will make it to the catwalk.

He also has a keen following of celebrities including TOWIE’s Gemma Collins, singer of the 1990s hit ‘Dreamer’ Janice Robinson and the stars of the Real Housewives of Cheshire and Love Island – who send support to Olly via social media.

Callum Lyon

LITTER is such an eyesore, but some kind-hearted residents take it upon themselves to help clean up not only their space, but their communities by helping to pick it up.

One such person is kind-hearted Callum. From around the age of eight, selfless Callum, from Clinkham Wood, has been helping to clean up his community by picking up rubbish off the streets.

Callum, who has special needs, is now 19 and studying Learning Life Skills at St Helens College.

His “extremely proud” stepdad Carl Longworth, 37, says the family were “shocked but really happy” to find out the teenager had been nominated for a Pride of St Helens Award.

He said: “ I’m just so so proud of Callum being nominated for this because he’s been doing it since he was around eight-years-old.

“Even when people his age made comments about it he never stopped. The hard-working student is passionate about hos community.

Carl added: “He finds it quite relaxing to do and it’s great that he’s doing something he loves to do and that it helps the community so much.

“He just wants to help clean up the area he lives in.”

Jack Lea

NINE-year old Jack Lea has a big heart. After his great aunty Marie was given her dying wish thanks to the HoneyRose Foundation, Jack made it his mission, despite his young age, to do all he could to thank the charity.

The Legh Vale Primary pupil has taken on many events to raise funds for the charity, including a Mini Mudder, Liverpool Spring 1k and Bear Grylls Survival training.

Most recently he conquered Mount Snowdown with proud mum and dad Joanne and Chris.

He’s recently been named as the charity’s Young Ambassador for all his work.

His mum Joanne, 34, said: “We are so, so very proud of Jack, he’s a little superstar.

“He decided to do all this himself and even the other month after not doing anything for a while he came and told us that he was going to climb Snowdon. So off we went to do it. He’s amazing and I couldn’t be prouder of him being nominated and shortlisted for this.”

Lynn Duffy, founder of the HoneyRose Foundation added: “Jack is such an amazing young boy, brave, tough and determined.”

Jack isn’t done either, he aims to keep helping HoneyRose for all the help they offer to those in their final days.