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.