A "KIND and caring" Sedgley schoolgirl has been nominated for a prestigious Dudley Borough Community Award.
Fundraiser Emily Maher-Butler, aged nine, has been recognised for her work supporting people and organisations.
The Alder Coppice Primary School pupil has been nominated for the Volunteer or Fundraiser of the Year as part of the Dudley Borough Community Awards 2024.
She has been assisting at the All Stars Youth Club for several years now, an "invaluable resource" for children who have special needs, which was set up by her mum Charlotte along with other colleagues.
In addition, she always holds a Christmas fundraising event which has supported the Women's Refuge, children's hospitals and homeless people in the community. This usually involves getting her school to enlist support from pupils in donating toys and other gifts.
She's delivered various items to homeless organisations, raised £900 for the Haven women's charity, and event taken part in a sponsored bike ride for the All Stars Youth Club.
Her proud mum Charlotte said: "She's very kind and caring and thinks about other people.
"She knows there are people out there who are less fortunate than herself.
"I am incredibly proud of her".
The awards, brought to you by Stourbridge News and the Halesowen & Dudley News, will celebrate the wonderful work that happens across the Dudley Borough within the business, charity, educational, health and community spheres.
People have until September 15 to nominate those people you want to see rewarded for their hard work and diligence.
Anyone can nominate - from the general public to businesses and other community and charity organisations.
Finalists will be invited to a glittering evening awards event due to be held at 7pm on Thursday, November 21 at the Copthorne Hotel, Dudley.
This year's headline sponsors are Halesowen College and Birmingham Newman University.
Hayley Edwards, head of marketing at Halesowen College, said: "We are sponsoring this year’s Dudley Community Awards to celebrate and recognise the dedicated individuals and community businesses and projects across the Dudley Borough as well as showcasing them to the wider region.
"It's wonderful to see so many local people and groups being acknowledged and awarded for their efforts in making a positive difference within our communities."
Helen Burgoyne, student recruitment and marketing manager at Birmingham Newman University, said: "We are delighted to be supporting the Dudley Borough Community Awards and recognising the people that do fantastic things every day in our community.”
Alicia Kelly, editor of the Stourbridge News and the Halesowen and Dudley News, said: "Thanks to the stories we publish online every day and each week in our newspapers, we know many fantastic people are striving to make a real difference across the Dudley Borough.
"It is a privilege to share their successes with a wider audience and these awards will be another way for us to shine the spotlight on those who deserve our praise and thanks.
This year the awards are made up of 13 categories
- Business of the Year
- New Business of the Year
- Independent Business of the Year
- Best Customer Service
- Best Community Project or Group
- Volunteer or Fundraiser of the Year
- Sports Team, Club or Personality of the Year
- Teacher of the Year
- Environmental Project of the Year
- Young Person of the Year
- Diversity in the Community Award
- Care Hero of the Year
- Healthcare Professional of the Year
To nominate visit https://www.dudleynews.co.uk/dudleycommunityawards2024/
Businesses who may be interested in sponsoring the awards should email debra.orr@localiq.co.uk
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