THE nominations for this year's Helping Hands Award are:

CATHY BROOM

AFTER 35 years of volunteering, Cathy Broom has no intention of slowing down anytime soon.

Many will know her for her work as the secretary of the local NSPCC, which raised huge amounts of money for the Barrow and South Lakes area.

But that’s only one side of the story. She also does an awful lot of work for St Mary’s Hospice, helping people with their end of life care as well as driving them to appointments and making them as cared for as possible.

But she also does a tremendous amount of work for overseas charities, with husband Paul, including AMOK (A Matter Of Kids), which helps provide money for Indian children to get a good education from infancy to the time they leave university.

She said: “I am very surprised to have been nominated. There are so many people who do so much good work it’s never down to just one person.

“Being able to help people is a real honour and to see the good work that is done from the money we provide through fundraising is very gratifying.

“The hospice is a place to live, not to die, and being able to make people happy makes me very happy in what could be a sad place.

“It brings such relief to the people who are admitted and to the families.

“And the AMOK charity is making a real difference to those who need it most.

“There are so many people who would be worthy of the award.

“I’m so surprised to have been nominated.

“I really don’t think I’m worthy but I’m very humbled and really looking forward to seeing everyone at the ceremony.”

WENDY BARRY

WENDY Barry is the driving force behind the revamped Ulverston Carnival, one of the highlights of the town’s social calendar.

Wendy and her team of hardy volunteers have breathed new life in the festival, which has wowed the Ulverston townsfolk for a century, and made it a success.

The carnival not only brings pleasure to hundreds of people and brings the community together, but it also raises much-needed funds for charities in the town.

She said: “About four years ago, a group of us came together to try and reinvent the carnival.

“It’s not just me, it’s a huge group effort by a lot of people – everyone from the volunteers on the steering committee to the marshals and the people who get everything ready on the day of the festival.

“We raised around £1,600 for Animal Welfare and the year before we split if between five charities who do such great work in the community.”

And it’s not only through the carnival that Wendy helps the community, she raises money through her bar, Avanti Capitola, and has also taken to the town’s stocks and acted as a target along with people from other businesses.

She added: “The town comes together for things like the carnival, both in terms of attending and organising.

“It’s a massive team effort to pull it all together.

“The contribution of local businesses and the public contributing cannot be underestimated.

“If I won, this is for the team, not for me, as it’s a team effort and should be seen as such as Ulverston is a very special place with some special people.”

ROGER CHATTAWAY

YOU’RE as likely to see Roger Chattaway with a trowel and a spade as you are behind the bar of one of his hostelries.

For the man who makes a living supplying fine ales and wines, as well as delicious fayre to the people of Ulverston also helps to keep the town's flowers watered.

But there isn’t anything that the owner of the Rose and Crown and Farmer’s Arms won’t do to help bring the community together.

You will be able to see him out and about during planting season, adding a splash of colour to the town centre, not only for the many events the town centre holds, but for the Britain in Bloom competition, of which the town got through to the finals.

But the longest-serving publican in town, who has now clocked up 38 years owning licensed premises, takes it all in his stride as he sees it as a win/win situation.

He said: “Ulverston is my home and where I have my businesses so it’s a place I want to make look the best it can.

“I try and support all of the events with labour and storage because it’s in everyone’s benefit.

“People have a great time and the economy gets a boost.

“It’s a small effort to showcase the great things that Ulverston has to offer.

“The town is on the up and there are many, many people who are making that happen. I’m just a cog in a wheel.

“There is so much work going on that isn’t seen and goes uncelebrated.

“I’m not sure why I’ve been nominated but I’m understandably very happy. It will be a great night for the town because there is so much good work going on that no one knows about.”