Award nomination is music to ears of Hartlepool charity

An awards nomination is music to the ears of a Hartlepool charity which helps young people.

Red Dreams is in the running for a Best of Hartlepool Award and charity founder Dawn McManus said: “You are always humbled when things like that happen.”

Red Dreams, in Whitby Street South, Hartlepool, works with and supports people through the creative arts and media.

It has recently extended the age range of those it supports to help even more people.

It was set up by Dawn and Ian McManus, whose son Kyle died of a brain haemorrhage when he was just 16.

It has been described as Kyle’s legacy, and provides a free place for young people to show off their musical and artistic talents.

The nomination hailed Red Dreams for being a not for profit organisation which “helps young people to grow in confidence and offers lessons, a safe place, a shoulder, a friend, studio time, any way they can help they will”.

It also praised the team at Red Dreams as “all amazing people that put others first”.

Dawn described the award nomination as “fabulous” and added: “We do it because we love it, and it is amazing that someone has thought of us.

“We have always just done what we do to help the young people of the town.”

Red Dreams works across a number of creative sectors including photography, vocal coaching, instrument tuition, band rehearsal and mentoring.

It also works in areas such as film-making and editing, and music recording - all from its base at Whitby Street South.

The Best of Hartlepool awards are being held in association with Niramax, and in which Specsavers, Stagecoach North East and Hart Biologicals are category sponsors.

The deadline for entries in the competition is Saturday, April 2. After that, judges will draw up a shortlist for each of the categories listed.

And then it’s on to the grand finale, which will be held this year at the Hardwick Hall Hotel on Tuesday, April 26.

The awards will honour unsung stars. We know there are heroes galore out there who are worthy of awards.

Fill in the nomination form on this page or visit http://www.jpne-events.co.uk.