Meet the Finalists: North of England’s Everyday Heroes Recognised at Inaugural Hope Awards

Leeds-based mental health and suicide prevention organisation HelloHope has announced the finalists for its first-ever Hope Awards, celebrating individuals and organisations across the North of England who are quietly making a real difference to mental health and suicide prevention in their communities.

The inaugural awards ceremony will take place on Thursday 8 October 2026 at New Craven Hall, Leeds, bringing together finalists, sponsors and supporters for an evening celebrating hope, resilience and the people working tirelessly to support others.

The finalists have been announced, following judging by a prestigious panel including Greg Wright (Journalist and Deputy Business Editor at The Yorkshire Post), Steve Phillip (Founder and Director of The Jordan Legacy CIC), Sharon Watson MBE DL (Chief Executive and Principal of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance), and Miranda Arieh (Founder of NHS’ Healing, Education and Recovery of Emotional Strength programme).

Following a call for nominations earlier this year, HelloHope received a strong response, with more than 80 entries spanning charities, wellbeing organisations, community groups and individuals, all recognised for the vital role they play in supporting mental health and preventing suicide.

Ellie MacDonald, CEO and Founder of HelloHope says:

“It’s truly heartwarming reading so many inspiring nominations from ordinary individuals who’ve supported others, people who have channeled their personal pain into purpose-led missions and organisations and campaigns that help prevent suicides.

“Every person nominated should be extremely proud of themselves. The Hope Awards is something I’ve wanted to do for a while and it’s set to be a truly special evening.”

Tickets are available to attend the Hope Awards

The finalists, shortlisted across 9 categories, are:

1. Education & Youth Support

Shaheen Myers (Leeds) – Founder of Balance:ed, supporting school leaders’ wellbeing through professional supervision and leadership development

Emma Oliver (Morley) – Runs Team Daniel, a youth club and GCSE revision support group in memory of her son
Olly Newton (Leeds) – Founder of LightsOnXP, delivering mental health talks in schools, supporting 100,000 young people over 190 schools in the UK.

Amelia Clegg & Naomi Calaman (Wakefield) – Volunteer youth leaders with YOUNGBUDS Girls Groups at Blossom Training and Development CIC

Sam Rawlings (Leeds) – Children’s counsellor offering creative and walk-and-talk therapy

Tom Dickinson (Barnsley) – Founder of Tom’s Talks, delivering youth mental health workshops nationwide

Queen Esther (Bradford) – Creator of the SHELLS Framework™, a preventative wellbeing programme for children

2. Innovative Mental Health Programme or Campaign Award

Ruth Grierson (Leeds) – Founder of The Henry Grierson ADHD & Mental Health Foundation, supporting young men’s mental health

Patricia Porter (Leeds) – Founder of Myndtime wearable wellbeing tool and host of the Invisible Me podcast

Lizzie Crofts (Leeds) – Founder of Cavalier Health Ltd, workplace mental health prevention services

Gary Mullen (Bradford) – Cycling 1,600 miles for SoBS in memory of his brother Jamie

Lisa Shepherd & Saskia Roskam (Leeds) – Co-founders of The Biskery, creators of the International Men’s Day mental health “biscuit” campaign with HelloHope

Queen Esther Osakwe (Bradford) – Creator of the SHELLS Framework™ for children’s wellbeing

3. Workplace Excellence
Loretaa Duberry (West Yorkshire) – Senior Key Worker and Mental Health First Aider at Together Women

Blerta Ilazi (Sheffield) – Health inclusion nurse supporting refugee healthcare professionals

Jane Dennis (Leeds) – Head of Wellbeing at Oakland Everything Data, leading workplace wellbeing initiatives

Ben Reasbeck (Doncaster) – Head of HealthTech and Life Sciences at Barclays, workplace wellbeing advocate

4. Creative Impact

Jenna Fan (Wakefield) – Piano/choir teacher at Fanfare Music, provided crisis support to a student

Ben Slack (Leeds) – Founder of The Swan Song Project, writing songs with terminally ill and bereaved people

Melody Reed (Bradford) – Founder of Music Box CIC, using music for community confidence-building

Penny Rowe (Leeds) – Runs a monthly community art group in Garforth

5. Wellbeing Superstars

Tracy Stones (Leeds) – Businesswoman and community connector championing neurodiversity and wellbeing

Real Hope Initiative CIC (Bradford) – Runs Breaking the Silence campaign and Unmuted wellbeing programme for women

Adele Parr (Leeds) – Wellbeing coach at Hypnotherapy Lounge Leeds, delivering workplace wellbeing sessions

Sarah Young (Leeds) – Founder of Sage Ayurvedic, offering accessible yoga, massage and meditation

Queen Esther (Bradford) – Health and Wellbeing Consultant, founder of BREATHE wellbeing initiative

Mark ‘Charlie’ Valentine & Sebastian Budniak (Leeds) – Hosts of White Fox Talking mental health podcast

6. Unsung Hero

Lizzie Collins (Leeds) – Operations Manager at Phoenix Health and Wellbeing

Sharon Burke (Leeds) – Founder of the James Burke Foundation, CEO of Leeds Involving People

Paul Waterworth (Halifax/Leeds) – Former Company Secretary/Trustee of Andy’s Man Club, HelloHope volunteer

Tanya Bish (Wetherby) – Founder of Living Potential Care Farming CIC

Harold Kolawole – Mental health advocate supporting diaspora communities in primary care

Tracey Roberts (Liverpool) – Founder and CEO of The Jade Roberts Project

7. Suicide Intervener

Jack Roberts (Liverpool) – Manager of The Jade Roberts Project, ASIST trainer with 500+ interventions

Tracey Roberts (Liverpool) – Founder of The Jade Roberts Project

Bob Hood (Leeds) – Rugby coach who supported players through crisis

Jenna Fan (Wakefield) – Piano/choir teacher, supported a student through crisis

8. Inspiring Individual

Chris Sylvester (Leeds) – Founder of Getting Clean, addiction recovery social enterprise

Alexis Frier – Reiki Master/Teacher integrating Mental Health First Aid into wellness training

Esther Shiren (Leeds) – Survivor of mental health issues including addiction, using her personal experience to support others.

Olly Newton (Leeds) – Founder of LightsOnXP, supporting 100,000 young people across over 190 schools in the UK.

Sunjeeda Hanif (Leeds) – Founder of Women’s Whispers CIC, supporting vulnerable women and families

Blerta Ilazi (Sheffield) – Founder of the ReSTORE programme for refugee healthcare professionals

9. Community Impact

Chris Sylvester (Leeds) – Founder of Getting Clean and LERO Leeds

Louise Reed (Halifax) – Founder of Focus4Hope, supporting people facing poverty and hardship

Nicola Swales (Leeds) – Founder of Shine Bright CIC, delivering WRAP wellbeing programmes for young people

Madeleine France (Wakefield) – Blossom Training and Development CIC, tackling violence against women and girls

Sunjeeda Hanif (Leeds) – Founder of Women’s Whispers CIC

Tomiwa Dada (Bradford) – Founder of Babes of the Most High Global CIC, empowering women