THE Post & Times can today reveal the finalists for the inaugural Staffordshire Moorlands Community Awards.

The campaign – which has been running since January – was launched to honour individuals and groups who do work above and beyond the call of duty.

Children who are battling adversity, talented teenagers and adults who help inspire thousands of youngsters at schools across the district have also been recognised.

There have been a total of 61 nominations across eight different categories.

And a panel of eight judges met last Thursday to decide on the final three in each section.

They will be invited to a ceremony at Alton Towers on April 24, when the winners will be announced and receive their prizes.

The finalists are listed in a panel on this page but will also be receiving a letter – from organisers Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and the awards sponsors – detailing what happens next.

Those who didn't make it through to the final three will also be receiving a letter and certificate.

The Post & Times joined forces with the district council and main sponsor Kerrygold to launch the Staffordshire Moorlands Community Awards, which were the idea of council leader Sybil Ralphs. Sponsorship has also been secured from Britannia Building Society, solicitors AH Brooks & Co, Leek United Building Society, Moorlands Housing and Alton Towers.

The awards have been open to individuals, groups and organisations from Leek, Cheadle and Biddulph. All those nominated have featured in the Post & Times.

Gill Burton, who is a member of SMDC, said all the entries were worthy of winning and it was 'exceptionally difficult' to choose just three in each category.

She said: "What has been most memorable for me from the judging, is what an amazing community we have in the Staffordshire Moorlands and how we will recognise and celebrate that in our community awards."

Fellow judge Carol Rowley, marketing co-ordinator at Leek United Building Society, said deciding on the final three had been 'a very difficult' job.

She said: "Everyone who was nominated deserved to be put through as a finalist.

"The amount of community spirit never fails to amaze me but, it is only at times like this, when other people want to point out the efforts of those nominated, is recognition received."

Judge Bob Duncalf is the managing director of Moorlands Housing, which sponsored the Community and Residents Group category.

He said: "The quality of the applications was excellent and the amount of time and effort that people give of their own free will to make the Moorlands a better place was amazing .

"It is only when you need some of these services or live in the communities supported by the residents' groups, could you truly appreciate this hard work and we all felt very humbled when we tried to decide who we would recommend for the awards ceremony. In truth it could have been any of them but we had to make some choices."

Andrew Torr, Britannia Building Society's community public relations manager, was also on the judging panel.

He said: "The awards recognise and celebrate the strengths of people in our community and it has been great to see the level of interest and the quality and number of nominations received during this campaign.

"The remarkable stories of courage, determination and achievement made our task very difficult."

Judge Greta Williamson is a partner in solicitor AH Brooks and Co, which sponsored the Charity Champion and Good Neighbour categories.

She said: "Trying to decide the final three in the Charity Champion category, from so many dedicated and selfless people, who constantly put the needs of others above their own, was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make.

"Without good neighbours, every town and city would be a far worse place to live in. The fact that so many people were nominated goes to show that community sprit is still very much alive."

Rob Cotterill, editor of the Post & Times series, was chairman of the judging panel.

He said: "The response to the awards has been excellent. I would like to congratulate all those who have been nominated and whose stories have featured in the Post & Times."

Alison Palmer, brand marketing controller at Kerrygold, praised the strong quality of the nominations in each category.

She said: "There were so many worthy candidates that you wanted to give them all an award. However, there was a strong consensus among the judges and in nearly all categories, the top three of each of the judges were very similar. So we felt very happy with the chosen winners."

Another judge Mike Bowen, who is a district councillor, said: "Perhaps the most outstanding aspect of this event is the degree of care and involvement in the community shown by virtually all of the entrants, some over long periods of time and others having to overcome their own difficulties."