Pearson Funeral Service is a local family firm serving the local communities throughout Huddersfield for more than 93 years.
Owners Clive and Leanne Pearson said: “We always strive to support events in our local communities whenever we can and are honoured once again to be the sponsors of this year’s Young Personality Award.
“We wish the best of luck to all the nominees and look forward to meeting them at the John Smith’s Stadium on the night.”
Young carers are the unsung heroes and heroines of society.
In Kirklees more than 3,500 young people under 25 are acting as unpaid carers for a parent or sibling. Many take on adult responsibilities at an early age and save the nation thousands of pounds in social care.
One such young man is 17-year-old Ben Varley who, with his younger brother Reece aged nine help their mother to care for their brother.
Jack, 11, was born with the genetic disorder Sotos Syndrome. The condition causes abnormal growth, learning difficulties and extreme behavioural problems.
Ben is studying health and social care at Huddersfield New College, a choice inspired by his years as a carer. But his family responsibilities mean that Ben sometimes misses college and often misses out on normal teenage life.
“I have had to grow up very quickly,” he said. “I’ve been helping my mum since Jack was born. I have had to look after my little brother at home, help her clean up and cook the tea.
“I go to the doctor’s and get prescriptions and take him to the doctors. I have no chance to socialise at the moment.”
Despite his absences, the Meltham teenager believes he is still on track with his studies at the moment, but is anxious about his future prospects.
“My mates want to know why I get days off school,” he said. “I get really annoyed with them sometimes because they just don’t understand.”
One organisation helping to support Ben is Kirklees Young Carers which gives him the opportunity to meet people in a similar situation and to make new friends.
Project leader John Humpleby said: “For these youngsters caring is an extra burden that other young people don’t have. We can’t take away their caring responsibilities, but we can help them cope and flourish and achieve the best they can in the circumstances.”
Ben is a godsend to his mum Jo, who is a single parent.
She said: “He is like my best friend. We have a really good relationship and have grown really close over the years. I’d be lost without him. He has the patience of a saint.”
For some teenagers concentration can be a problem - but not Jessica Hirst.
The 14-year-old Colne Valley High School pupil is extremely single-minded and clear of her goals.
Since taking up athletics in 2010 she has excelled and has been Yorkshire’s top thrower in her age group ever since.
Jess, who lives in Slaithwaite, has shown a talent and dedication in hammer, discuss and shot putt. Although not particularly large or heavy, she has won a string of medals and titles.
In 2010 She won Under 13 Girls’ Discus gold medal at the West Yorkshire Track and Field Championships. The following year she took the Yorkshire Under 13 Girls’ Shot Putt and West Yorkshire Under 13 Girls’ Shot Putt and Under 13 Girls’ Discus titles.
In 2012 She moved up to the Northerns and where she won a silver and bronze. She also represented Kirklees Schools, becoming discus champion and finishing ninth in the English Schools Championships.
Last year was a big step up when Jess competed nationally only just missing out on medals at both the UK indoor and outdoor championships. She did, however, win gold medals at county and regional level and helped Yorkshire to lift the Inter Counties Athletics Championships. She is currently ranked 13 for both hammer and discus in the UK.
It was also the year in which she won Kirklees Schools’ only gold in discus in Italy and silver in the shot putt at the European Kids Athletics Games in the Czech Republic.
Father Richard is her biggest fan and takes Jess to all her training sessions.
He said: “Jess’s dedication to her sport is second to none. Due to the highly specialised equipment needed she has to travel to Halifax Harriers where she trains three times a week whatever the weather under the guidance of John Simpson. She also trains one night a week with Huddersfield Gymnastics Club and at Leeds Carnegie, concentrating on core strength.
“Jess has a complete focus on what she wants to do and the determination and drive to really move forward. She has a great mental strength.”
Jess, is now aiming for the North of England team and then to represent England. She said: “I am really dedicated to my athletics. I’m always motivated and always want to go to training.”
It is hard for any child to leave friends and change schools.
Imagine how much harder it is for children who not only leave their friends, but also their home and even their country.
That was the situation Kircho Ruskov found himself in 2009 when, at the age of nine, his family left Bulgaria to find work and make a new life in Huddersfield.
Things didn’t start out too well.
Kircho said: “It was very strange - the people and the language were different. It was difficult in the beginning and I also found school quite difficult, so I was naughty.”
He moved to North Huddersfield Trust School in 2011 and struggled to cope with the transition from his Birkby primary school. North Huddersfield staff said: “His behaviour was at times challenging which, unfortunately, had a negative impact on his learning.”
Two things then happened to help turn Kircho’s life around. His teachers gave him extra help with one-to-one tuition. But the biggest impact came when he joined The Gladiators Boxing Academy in Linthwaite. Bulgaria has a good tradition of boxers and Kircho had had a few lessons before he left his homeland. He’s now had 11 fights and eight wins.
North Huddersfield’s Lindsay Taylor said: “His involvement in boxing has had a transformational effect on his behaviour and position in school. He has been able to transfer the disciplined attitude he has developed in the boxing world to the school environment. So much so that he was recently appointed a KS3 leader and assumed responsibilities with the school community.
“Kircho is an amazing pupil who is turning his life around through his passion for his chosen sport. He is a natural leader a disciplined force and a calming influence among his peers. We are proud of Kircho and all that he has achieved.”
His boxing coach added: “Kircho has improved his attitude massively, he has great potential in boxing. He is very talented and a joy to teach.”
Kircho is proud of his hard-working family and wants to make them proud of him.
He added: “Boxing makes me feel good, it is not just about fighting, it is about thinking. It gives me confidence – not just in the boxing ring but at school as well.”
