The annual celebration pays tribute to those who show dedication at a range of sporting, health, and wellbeing activities at all levels, and those who work tirelessly to support individuals or community clubs, for the love of the sport or their community.
Winners were announced at a glittering ceremony at Burnley Mechanics hosted by have-a-go BBC sports presenter and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant, Mike Bushell.
Mike is well known for presenting bulletins on TV and radio and has personally sampled nearly 400 different sports and activities during his Saturday morning slot on BBC Breakfast.
His wealth of experience of covering big sporting events includes reporting and presenting on the Olympics, Paralympics, Winter Olympics, football World Cups, Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games, where an interview with English swimmers went viral when he fell in a swimming pool during a live interview on BBC Breakfast.
Scroll down to see the full list of winners:
1. Active Burnley Awards 2024 – Volunteer of the Year
The family of Volunteer of the Year Jolie Forrest, who received the award on her behalf while she was at her school prom. Her sister Trixie is pictured holding the glass trophy.High school student Jolie volunteers at Padiham Green Primary School, where she works tirelessly with the dance team and has even caught the eye of the Duchess of York. Her nomination says: “Jolie has supported the school for a number of years now and whilst she has always been a confident and talented dance teacher, her skills have developed so much that anyone could mistake her for a staff member. She is a huge inspiration to the children and an amazing role model they all look up to.”Earlier this year, the Duchess of York visited Padiham Green to see all their hard work regarding health, sport, and outdoor education and watched the dance team practice with Jolie.She commented she couldn’t believe that Jolie was still only in high school. However, once she discovered the teenager was also an amazing singer, the Duchess asked her to sing a song which she then did - and blew everyone away! Photo: ANDY FORD
2. Active Burnley Awards 2024 | Club of the Year
Mehnaz Hussain, under 11s coach, and Becky Clough, Female Football Development Officer, Daneshouse FC Girls. Daneshouse FC provides inclusive opportunities for people of all backgrounds and abilities to participate, fostering inclusivity and breaking down social barriers. The club recognises the importance of gender equality, providing opportunities that empower and build the confidence of women and girls particularly within Asian communities, where sport and football is not widely accepted as an option for females. The judges said: “It is fantastic to see the club breaking stereotypes and inspiring the next generation of women to pursue their love for the sport.”Daneshouse FC continues to empower its participants by organising events to bring together the wider club and its teams. This includes interfaith football matches and a trip to Manchester City’s training facilities, where the players were greeted by the Premier League and Champion League trophies, making it a day to remember. Photo: ANDY FORD
3. Active Burnley Awards 2024 – Young Achiever of the Year
Finlay Royle (15) has been competing in Alpine skiing since the age of eight. He trains up to three times a week and races all over the UK and Europe. His achievements remain unmatched in UK skiing’s 60-year history. He has won more than 15 national championships and in one 12 month period won the Irish, English, Welsh, Scottish and British titles. Finlay has achieved number one status across every age group - under10, u12, and u14 - and he is currently the u16 number one skier in the UK. Last year, he became the second seeded skier in the UK across all age groups, narrowly missing out on the number one spot. He is a great role model, often looking out for younger less experienced racers when competing on the national and international circuit and has been voted club captain by his peers at Ski Rossendale. Photo: ANDY FORD
4. Active Burnley Awards 2024 – Coach/Instructor of the Year
Community Roots Project Coordinator Emma Fielding embodies the essence of a dedicated coach and mentor, elevating the lives of individuals through diverse activities spanning paddle sport, gardening, arts and crafts, and specialised outdoor sessions for individuals facing various health challenges. Emma’s diverse initiatives like knit and natter sessions and gardening clubs serve as vital community hubs, nurturing connections and combating social isolation among older adults. Emma’s success is underscored by the tangible achievements across her initiatives. Her collaborative efforts with Outdoors4All and NHS Lancashire have established a model for dementia-friendly outdoor activities. Her impact extends to Kemple View, where Emma has fostered therapeutic outdoor experiences, utilising nature-based programmes for mental health patients, thereby contributing significantly to their recovery journey. Emma’s projects have been transformative. They’ve led to increased physical activity levels, reduced social isolation, and improved mental health among participants. Photo: ANDY FORD