Amazing! Hartlepool's award-winning carers get doorstep deliveries to say thanks for being brilliant in lockdown

Hartlepool is thought to have around 12,000 carers and that is made up of 10,000 adults and 2,000 children.

The special praise came from the Hartlepool Carers group which wanted to herald the town's unsung heroes.

Hartlepool is thought to have around 12,000 carers and that is made up of 10,000 adults and 2,000 children.

To recognise their outstanding work, the group held their annual awards in conjunction with the Hartlepool Mail, and got more than 40 entries.

The Hartlepool Family Award 2020 (In memory of Ruby Marshall MBE). The winners were the Black-Hawks family.

Hartlepool Carers chief executive Christine Fewster said they were all superb.

Winners included a 15-year-old who is a carer and also a kind-hearted fundraiser, a family whose showed amazing support for each other, and someone who supports young carers while doing her university studies.

Christine added: “We have had over 40 entries across the categories, all inspirational.”

She praised the inspirational work going on across the town throughout the year. “All nominations this year were outstanding, showing the true picture of caring in Hartlepool.”

The Extra Mile Award (Sponsored by Mayfield Insurance Brokers). Janet Peers won the category.

The entries were so good that it led to a very special decision from awards organisers. Christine explained: “We have decided everyone that entered deserved a gift so have awarded everyone an afternoon tea in addition to the seven category winners.”

Thirty four people will be receiving their certificates in the post.

The champions in the seven categories of the competition got doorstep visits from the awards organisers – and none of them were expecting it.

“We were lucky that we caught them all when they were in,” said Christine. “It was really emotional and people were saying they were just doing their caring role because they love it.”

The winners included Young Carer of the Year Ebony Brown, Rebecka Kitson (Young Adult Carer of the Year), and the Black-Hawks Family (Hartlepool Family Award 2020 (In memory of Ruby Marshall MBE).

Further winners include Adult Carer Linda Bujnowski, Janet Peers (Extra Mile Award), Lauren Leighton (Special Recognition category), and Leanne Baister (Parent Carer of the Year).

Watch out for a special feature on all of our winners.

In the meantime, to find out more about Hartlepool Carers, visit the Hartlepool Carers Facebook page or call (01429) 283095.

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