Leah Gentile
Teenager Leah Gentile is working hard to fulfil her dream of becoming a vet alongside being a carer for her brother who has autism.
The 16-year-old, from Longton, recently passed all her GCSEs and is now studying animal management at Reaseheath College.
At home she supports her brother with his homework, mentors him through changes, eases his worries, reassures him about upcoming events, walks him to school and much more.
Leah has been nominated as a Future Star in the Your Heroes Awards by Chelsie Hughes, Young Carers Support Worker at North Staffs Carers.
Chelsie said: “Leah’s brother has recently been diagnosed with autism and Leah supports him quite a lot. Her brother can mask a lot of his symptoms at school meaning when he comes home he can have some emotional outbursts which can sometimes lead to him getting quite physical and Leah experiencing the brunt of this.
“Leah is fantastic with her brother and does all she can to support him. She is very understanding and compassionate and always considers others in everything that she does.
“Despite everything she can experience she is always happy, upbeat and speaks positively of her brother and caring for him.
“I am so proud of Leah as even though she has been dealing with such a lot at home and adjusted herself and life to support her brother she has grown so much in confidence and not only passed all her GCSEs but got into Reaseheath College and is working hard to make her dream of becoming a vet come true!”
Leah’s mum, Joy Batkin, said: “I’m really proud of Leah anyway and being nominated for a Your Heroes Award is just another pat on the back.
“She’s always lovely and gets on with everyone. She’s always been older headed and mature for her age. She’s very organised and likes everything to be done in an ordered way, which helps with caring for her brother.”
Freddie Horne
Freddie Horne stayed silent for an entire school day to thank the hospital that treated his sister for leukaemia – and raised £5,000 in the process.
The nine-year-old, from Stafford, completed the fundraiser to thank staff at the Royal Stoke after sister Mabel, four, was cared for on the Oncology Unit.
The money will be used to help improve the patient experience on the unit.
Mum Heather said: “Mabel was diagnosed with leukaemia less than a month after starting reception class. Freddie came up with the idea of a sponsored silence by himself whilst Mabel was in hospital. He was being looked after by his grandparents at the time and myself and his dad, Simon, had no idea what he’d done. Freddie and his friends had made posters themselves to advertise it.
“When we returned home with Mabel after 12 days in hospital he told us all about it and how he’d raised £80 already.
“We were very proud of him when we found out, but not surprised. Freddie loves Mabel so much and is such a good big brother to her and is so supportive. It’s such a Freddie thing to do.
“He’d set himself a £250 target so we decided to share it on social media. It soon reached £1,000 then £2,000 and kept going up and up, it was amazing. Freddie even went on local radio to share his story.
“The sponsored silence went well, he managed to keep it up for the whole day. Even when I picked him up on the playground he wouldn’t talk to me until he walked through the school gates.”
Freddie said: “It was World Mental Health Day at school and it wasn’t long since Mabel was in hospital so I decided to raise some money for her and her hospital.
“The silence went good but there were times when my teacher was asking me questions and I had to write the answers down on a whiteboard! I enjoyed raising the money and feel happy about what I’ve done.”
Freddie’s dad Simon added: “The care Mabel received at Staffordshire Children’s Hospital at Royal Stoke has been brilliant, we couldn’t fault anything. One thing we did discover however, was that the fish tank in the Oncology playroom only had one fish left in it, so we’ve decided to use the money raised to buy some more fish to keep it company.
“As Mabel enjoyed playing in there, we’ve also donated a number of toys and games so other patients can share the same experience.”
Funds donated through UHNM Charity will also enable the Unit to purchase new furniture for patients and their loved ones.
Julie Eaten, Children’s Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist said: “We were thrilled to hear that Freddie had decided to take on his sponsored silence for his sister Mabel. Everybody on the Unit would like to say a big well done and thank you to Freddie and his family for helping to improve the experience of patients and their loved ones who receive treatment here at Staffordshire Children’s Hospital at Royal Stoke.”
Freddie has been nominated as a Future Star in the Your Heroes Awards.
Brooke Chomyn
Not only is Brooke Chomyn a 21-year-old woman carving a career in the construction industry, she is a care leaver who is proud to show other young people that they can improve their life chances too.
Brooke is a material resource controller for Unitas Stoke-on-Trent Ltd, Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s repairs and maintenance company, where her job includes making sure materials arrive on time for tradespeople.
She has studied a Business Administration Apprentice with Stoke-on-Trent College.
Alongside her day job she attends careers fairs to encourage others to consider an apprenticeship within the construction industry.
Brooke volunteers at The House Project and mentors young people that are in care to help to steer them to live independently and to have a successful education and job. She designed a leaflet for children in care with guidance about careers and applying for jobs.
Brooke sits on the Children’s Fostering and Adoption panel to assess the suitability of prospective carers of young people. She questions new foster and adoptive parents to ensure they are the best candidates.
In 2022 Brooke was recognised as a finalist in the Youth Voice Award category at the Staffordshire Youth Awards.
Rachel Forster, Unitas’ corporate responsibility co-ordinator, said: “Brooke is an inspiration to other young people and demonstrates that through sheer grit and determination you can achieve great things for yourself and also help to change the lives of others.”
Unitas Stores Manager Emma Sloan said: “Unitas has worked very closely with the Care Leavers Team in the city to make apprenticeships available to the young people that they support.
“Brooke is the first young apprentice to come into Unitas through this route. She has excelled since day one and we have seen her develop and grow in her time with us.
“It’s fantastic to see her efforts and work recognised at the awards, recognition that is well and truly deserved.”
Brooke said: “Unitas is my work family and I feel that I have found my forever job. I want to improve my life so that one day, should I have children, they will be proud of me.”
Brooke has been nominated in the Future Star category of the Your Heroes Awards.
Ben Haywood
Ben Haywood suffered severe anxiety at secondary school but now, as an apprentice chef at Feasted, he has the confidence to devise his own fine dining dishes and present them to customers.
The 19-year-old joined the food-based CIC just over a year ago, volunteering for six months before starting a level two apprenticeship in Hospitality at Stafford College.
He has become a key member of the team and acts as a mentor for new recruits at the business based at the Spode Works in Stoke-on-Trent.
Cris Cohen, CEO of Feasted, said: “Ben is consistently exceeding all expectations of his development. Every time he reaches a plateau he is already seeking out the next step and pushing forward with excellence.
“He is a great example of someone who is, against the odds, building a fantastic career for themselves.”
Cris has nominated Ben in the Future Star category of the Your Heroes Awards.
He said: “Ben won’t mind it being said that when he started working in the kitchen his skill level and understanding was lower than other members of the team, but he didn’t let this phase him.
“Ben has clearly grown through adversity, having experienced severe anxiety during his time at secondary school. Even at this early stage of his apprenticeship he is now far exceeding the standards and expectations put on him.
“In a short time, Ben has become an integral part of our team, both independently creating and collaborating on dishes for Chef’s Table, taking control of his development and telling his story on his own terms to our customers.
“What has really been a great pleasure to watch is Ben’s development as a mentor, this is an area where he really shines; passing down his positivity and wisdom to other young people.
“He is a Stokie through and through and takes great pride in creating dishes which celebrate the rich and diverse heritage of our city.”
Jordan Purcell
From the moment Jordan Purcell stepped into his grandad’s workshop as a child he knew he wanted to be a joiner.
As a four-year-old he loved nothing more than getting his hands dirty turning wood.
Thirteen years on the teenager is working as a Joinery Apprentice with Leek-based Brookeswood Joinery.
Since the age of seven Jordan has enjoyed working on his own woodwork projects and in 2017, at the age of just 10, set up his own Instagram page to show off his craftmanship.
The Instagram page, jord_the_maker, displays photographs of his beautiful handturned creations including bowls, ornaments, clocks and pens.
Jordan said: “I learnt a lot watching my grandad make things from wood in his workshop – so much so that growing up I always knew I wanted to follow in his footsteps.
“His craftsmanship always fascinated me and I knew that I wanted to learn the skills he had and make the things he could.
“My apprenticeship is teaching me so much. For me there is no better job than this and I can’t wait to carry on learning and developing.”
Brookeswood Installation Manager Steve Roberts said: “Jordan really is a rising star. He’s one of the best apprentices we’ve ever had. He has a natural talent and his aptitude to learning is second to none.
“In terms of his ability, he is far more advanced than you would expect for someone his age. He really cares about what he’s doing, really wants to learn and isn’t afraid to ask questions.
“Jordan has an incredibly bright future ahead of him and we are delighted that he is part of the Brookeswood Team.”
Jordan has been nominated in the Future Star category of the Your Heroes Awards.
Hope Carter
During her reign as Endon Well Dressing Queen Hope Carter wants to raise both the profile and the biodiversity of the local area.
The 10-year-old, a pupil at St Luke’s Academy in the village, was crowned at a ceremony in May and will reign for one year.
She has already planted a community orchard, been on litter picks, planted pollinator flowers in the local park and distributed wildflower seeds to homes in Endon and neighbouring Stanley.
She is currently growing sunflowers, some to give away in the village and others to plant in the park.
Hope regularly enters agricultural shows with things she has grown and plans to donate any prize money she receives this year to St Luke’s Church at the end of her year as queen. She is also planning fundraising events.
Hope has been nominated as a Future Star in the Your Heroes Awards by her proud mum, Joanne Carter.
Joanne said: “I’m absolutely astonished by what she does. I’m so proud of her. She applied, unsuccessfully, to be Endon Well Dressing Queen last year and was so disappointed. I was surprised when she wanted to try again this year but she was determined that she had something to give to the local area.
“She’s overcome that disappointment from last year, she’s grown and it’s made her more determined.”
Primary aged children submit an application form to take on the historic role of Endon Well Dressing Queen and then give a speech about themselves to a committee as part of the selection process.
“She was so happy to be chosen this year,” said Joanne. “She was smiling all the way home after she received the news.
“She’s planning various things to raise the profile and boost the biodiversity of the area as it’s all about the environment for her. She loves making people smile.”
Madison Toplass
Teenager Madison Toplass was awarded Youth Activist of the Year 2024 at Jamie Oliver’s Good School Food Awards in recognition of her years of fundraising in Stoke-on-Trent.
The 16-year-old, from Oakhill, has raised more than £8,000 for causes including the food department at Thistley Hough Academy, Stoke City’s Big Sleep Out, people affected by the war in Ukraine and to support her former school principal who had cancer.
She’s organised bake sales, raising thousands in the process. She was also given the role of Head of Community and Culture at Thistley Hough Academy, which gave her fundraising a platform.
Madison was given the Community Award and also the Principal’s Award at the end of high school with her headteacher calling her “an exceptional young individual who has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to academic achievement, leadership and service to others.”
Her fundraising began at the age of 13 after she was inspired by her mum, Sally Toplass.
Sally said: “As my line of work is community support, Madison took it upon herself to help where she could. She has raised over £8000 in this time. Some of this has been donated to local charities in the city.
“I feel extremely proud of the kind-hearted person she is, watching her have the passion and drive to help the community.”
Sally has nominated her daughter in the Future Star category of the Your Heroes Awards.
Madison said: “I’m very grateful for the nomination but I don’t do what I do because of the recognition. I do it to help people.”
Sophie Duffy and Lola Lewis
When Sophie Duffy and Lola Lewis heard their childminder’s dad had been diagnosed with dementia they decided to raise money for Dementia UK.
The friends, who are both pupils at Werrington Primary School, spent months making bracelets and keyrings to sell. They’ve raised around £500 so far.
The girls, aged 10 and six, have sold their creations at a craft fair and through a stall at their school.
They’ve been nominated in the Future Star category of the Your Heroes Awards by Sophie’s mum, Melissa Shirley.
Melissa said: “They’ve worked tremendously hard to make the bracelets and keyrings, working on them every day after school. No one told them to do it. It’s come entirely from them. They just wanted to help, which is lovely.
“They’re both only children so Lola sees Sophie as a big sister. They’re both such caring and loving children, it’s lovely to see how they are together.
“There’s a real bond between them over a cause that affects most families. They just heard about dementia and wanted to do something to try to help others.
“Our families couldn’t be prouder of them and their dedication.”
Liam Harrison
Teenager Liam Harrison has the chronic illness narcolepsy that causes him to fall asleep involuntarily but that hasn’t stopped him from giving up his free time to be a football coach for other youngsters.
The 15-year-old has been a coach with Chris Birchall’s Allstars Academy for two years, volunteering for six hours every weekend to teach four to 11-year-olds.
He also helps at a multi-sports session for two hours each week and has even become the coach of the Year Seven football team at his school, The Orme Academy in Wolstanton, leading them to victory at a tournament recently.
His proud mum, Kate Harrison, said: “Liam has been interested in football from when he was able to talk. It’s always been an obsession. He’s always been interested in the coaching side and can recite all the stats about various players.
“He’s been coaching since he was 11 and has been with Allstars Academy for nearly two years. Chris Birchall is always saying how much confidence Liam has and how well he’s doing.
“Liam wants to be a football coach for a living – he’d like to be the next Jose Mourinho! He’s keen to finish school and get a coaching job.”
Kate says she and husband Phil couldn’t be prouder of Liam’s achievements, particularly as he has been living with narcolepsy since the age of seven.
The chronic condition means that Liam never has REM sleep, is constantly tired and can fall asleep involuntarily including at school.
She added: “So many kids with narcolepsy don’t go to school at all or go to a special school. Liam is always in school unless he has a medical appointment. Not only that, he’s doing well and keeping up with studies for his GCSEs.”
Kate has nominated Liam in the Future Star category of the Your Heroes Awards.