Unsung heroes from the world of sport, business, environment, arts, community and education were celebrated at the Mayor of Dudley's Ball and Civic Awards 2025 on Friday evening.

The event took place in front of more than 200 people at the Copthorne Hotel in Brierley Hill. 

The evening, sponsored by Jewson and Brsk, raised thousands of pounds for three charities – Access in Dudley, Diabetes UK and Friends of Dudley Performing Arts. 

But it was also an opportunity to celebrate the winners of the annual civic awards, split into seven categories. 

The winner of the William Shenstone award for environment went to the volunteer-run Bumble Hole Conservation Group for its role in conserving and improving the borough beauty spot to make it attractive for visitors. 

Harry Brookes took the runner-up award for his work in Woodsetton, including playing a leading role in the preservation and relocation of the war memorial. 

The Flower Cottage won the Thomas Attwood Award for Education for its innovative approach to pre-school care, putting on personalised Spanish lessons, visits to care homes and much more. 

Joe Cooke – the manager of the Animal Care unit at Halesowen College - was named as runner-up. 

The Duncan Edwards Award for Sport went to Dudley Council’s Bikeability team, which teaches people of all ages across the borough but particularly children in schools to learn how to cycle. 

Ashley Griffiths, who recently completed his 300th Park Run as a volunteer, took runner-up. 

Suzanne Richardson, who runs The Health Factory in Kingswinford, was the winner of the Mike Holder Award for Business. She holds fitness classes for people aged 10 to 90 and also runs lots of sessions for children with special educational needs. 

Zoe Norton, who owns Zoe’s Coffee and Cakes in Norton, took the runner-up prize. 

The trophy for the winner of Cedric Hardwicke Award for Arts went to Keith Horsfall for his work helping young musicians and as a leading figure for both Black Country Radio and charity choir Gig Caritas.

The runner-up was archivist, historian and photographer Martin Jones. 

Unsung community lynchpin Dave Brownhill was the winner of the Frank Foley Award for Community Spirit. He has played a leading role behind the scenes in the establishment of both Black Country Radio and the Black Country Festival. 

Philip and Anita Evans, who have provided foster care for more than 400 children in the borough, were the runners-up. 

The penultimate award was the Mayor’s Award, won this year by Swinford Pharmacy following a public vote. Based in Oldswinford, the pharmacy acts as a health one stop shop and has become a key part of its community. 

Hope’s Christmas Hampers, based at New Hope Baptist Church in Coseley, and 2488 (Kingswinford) Squadron Air Training Corps were close runners-up. 

Finally Finley Stevens was the second winner of the YOU West Midlands Youth Award, set up to recognise young people in the borough in honour of Ben Corfield. Ben was an active volunteer in the community until tragically losing his life in 2022, aged just 19. 

Finley has battled back from a rare condition which put him in hospital and intensive care to raise more than £2,500 for the people who helped look after him and his family while he was in there. The teenager was presented with the award by Richard Boot OBE, deputy lieutenant of the West Midlands. 

Councillor Hilary Bills, the Mayor of Dudley, said:“This was a fantastic evening to celebrate the real unsung heroes of our borough. The people who work tirelessly, often for little or no financial reward, with the sole motivation of helping people around them.

“It was an absolute privilege to meet the winners and runners-up on the night and find out more about what they do.

“I would also like to thank everyone who came and dug deep to take part in games and raffles to help raise money for the Mayor’s charities, which rely heavily on public donations.”