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Glamorous mother and daughter team Wendy and Emma Willshire from Naomi House children's hospice said they were 'pleased and proud' to receive a Health and Care award on behalf of Naomi House.

Debbie McGee with Emma and Wendy Willshire.

Emma works as a fundraiser for the charity, while her mum Wendy, is a carer at Naomi House.

Emma said that she found working at Naomi House 'humbling' but added that working alongside her mum 'inspired her.'

Winners of the Young Achiever award and the Ambassador Award respectively, Shivani, 10 and Liam Dawett, 13, have won many accolades for their street dance routines.

13-year-old Liam has won World Street Dance Championships and set up two dance schools, as well as raising funds for a number of charities, including local children's hospice Naomi House.

Liam shows off his street dance moves.

He told Debbie that he was 'ecstatic' about receiving his award.

"Even though it's school tomorrow. I could just stay up all night and dance." he said.

Liam has set up two dance schools, and is planning to organise a dance show at the Haymarket Theatre in September.

His sister Shivani, aged 10, practices street dance for 25 hours every week and has been performing in public since she was aged just five years old.

AWARD WINNERS

The winners at the awards ceremony.

Young Achiever award

Shivani, aged 10, practices her specialist Street Dance activity for 25 hours every week and regularly raises money for charities by performing for the public.  She started when she was just 5 years old and she’s the winner of two World Street Dance Championships.  She has danced in front of 50,000 people and has shown incredible dedication, passion and commitment at such a young age.

 Ambassador Award

Liam Dawett, aged 13, has not only won UK titles, but also World Street Dance championships. He has also set up two dance schools and has helped raise funds for a number of charities, including Naomi House.  He’s had the idea of organising a dance show at the Haymarket Theatre in September, again raising money for charity and in doing all these things he’s made a special effort to not only bring dance alive in his community, but also to help put Basingstoke on the map.

Art and Culture Individual Award

Amanda Aldous created the Hackwood Art Festival, an event which gives Basingstoke residents a chance to view contemporary fine art, craft and design work. The event also raises vital funds for youth charities in the county and brought back to life one of Basingstoke’s treasured buildings. 

Arts & Culture Group Award

The Willis Museum: an inspiring group of people, led by Sue Taplis, have brought a sleeping beauty to life, right in the heart of Basingstoke. They have transformed a long neglected, 175 year old building into a truly stunning new museum, creating a venue that will attract national collections to Basingstoke.

Schools and Education Group Award

Four Lanes Infant School shows what can be achieved by a great team effort. The judges felt that  teachers, support staff, office staff, governors, parents and pupils at Four Lanes were committed to making a difference in teaching, learning and for raising educational standards. To use its own motto, this school has given thousands of local children ‘a flying start’.

Schools and Education Award Individual Award,

Derek Eastman has been sharing his Aikido skills and maintaining the sport’s proud traditions for 50 years.  He has taught thousands of pupils at Basingstoke Aikido Club - which he started over 40 years ago. In his nomination, one of his long-standing pupils says that “From a martial arts perspective, he is a national treasure’.

Good Citizen Award

Chris Beadle has done everything from minibus driving for the elderly to marathon running for charity and trekking in the Andes in the past 18 years. In addition, Chris has carried out a huge number of roles in supporting his local church. He has been a school governing body member for 12 years, worked chair of the local flower show, quiz night organiser, and chaired the school governing body.

Good Neighbour Award,

Lea Jeff and Tina Kelly spend hours fundraising, mending, planning, organising, cleaning at the Sycamore Centre in Winklebury.  Lea and Tina also run the Winklebury Community Association and the Winklebury Youth Project, helping across all ages across the whole community. They also manage to organise the Winklebury Carnival every July.

Unsung Hero Award

Basingstoke Talking News has worked tirelessly for 37 years to bring the local news to blind and partially-sighted residents. Each week, the 18 volunteers transfer a selection of stories from the pages of the Basingstoke Gazette onto tape and distribute to individuals, local libraries and a local disability centre.  They make a huge difference to a section of the community that could easily become isolated from daily life.

Health and Care Award

Naomi House provides respite care, terminal care and bereavement support for terminally ill children and families.  In their own words, they are there for “the good days, the bad days and the last days” and they have supported almost 500 children and their families so far.

Judges Special Award

Age Concern Basingstoke houses a team of 21 volunteers who have supported and worked with over a thousand students, providing them with essential IT skills which  help them stay in touch with the news, family and friends.  All these students were born long before the Internet and modern computers were invented – the eldest is well over 90 - but Age Concern Basingstoke has ensured that they are right up to date.