2024 Yorkshire ONE Awards Winners

Congratulation to all individuals and clubs nominated for a ONE Award – we’re proud of all our volunteers delivering Netball across Yorkshire.

The ONE Awards spotlight the incredible people who generously dedicate their time to make Netball happen across the Yorkshire region. 

 The award categories include:

• Club of the Year
• Coach of the Year (Adults) 
• Coach of the Year (Children & Young People)
• Community Official of the Year
• Inclusion Award
• Outstanding Contribution of the Year
• Pioneer of the Year
• Teacher of the Year
• Unsung Hero of the Year (in a league or club)
• Young Volunteer of the Year

The winners from each category across the 9 regions will be reviewed by a national panel, led by England Netball President Joan Mills, and invited to a national event that will take place in autumn 2024.

 

2024 Yorkshire ONE Award Winners

Yorkshire Netball were delighted to receive a record 113 nominations. This is an incredible feat and we thank everyone who submitted a nomination. The awards were held on Sunday 3 June at Headingly Stadium, with over 200 people attending.

We are pleased to announce the following winners:

 

Club of the Year

This award is presented to a Netball club who has made an outstanding contribution within their community, beyond simply delivering Netball performances on court. 

Winner: Chapeltown Community Netball club

"Chapeltown works with local schools to promote the sport and run holiday programmes for children who receive free school meals. They provide support for members who cannot afford to pay the club fees, through sponsorship and partnerships with local funders. This is offered in a non-stigmatising way through the club's rooted relationships with families in the local community. 

Netball has changed the trajectory of the lives of many of Chapeltown’s members over the years, including improved well-being, decreased isolation and belonging. Members have even taken each other to doctor’s appointments and supported each other through grief. The club continues to strive to extend that support across the local community."

Highly commended:

• Hull KR
• Sherburn Netball club
• YMCA Leeds

 

Coach of the Year (Adults) 

This award recognises a coach who has made an outstanding contribution to community Netball players, in environments with players over 18. 

Winner: Helen Steele

"Helen has stepped up and taken on the challenging role of Head Coach at Sherburn Netball Club, successfully implemented new ideas and ways of doing things resulting in wider participation. She brings together various sections of the club enabling better training and supporting development. She has opened up senior sessions to all members to trial leading to players feeling more connected and valued. 

As a result of the wider participation, the seniors are fielding an extra team in the summer league and more emerging young players are being given the opportunity to develop in senior play, resulting in the club retaining more players. She has really taken control of things and ultimately secured the club's future." 

Highly commended:

• Amy Stewart
• Jade Gerrard
• Lee Davis

 

Coach of the Year (Children & Young People)

This award recognises a coach who has made an outstanding contribution to community Netball players in environments with players under 18. 

Winner: Fayme Travis

"Fayme is not only a role model to the girls leading by example but she is compassionate, energetic and committed. Leading with kindness she is firm but very fair and the girls have respect for her as a coach. Through Fayme, they have learnt about strategy, Netball terminology, positions and nuances of the game all whilst having fun. Under the expert guidance of Fayme, the girls are honing their skills and working hard to master their positions. 

Going above and beyond in supporting the players love of Netball, she brought them together as a team and has organised meals out, trips to see Leeds Rhinos play and even a residential trip. Netball has become a huge positive influence on the players as they navigate adolescence all thanks to Fayme."

Highly commended:

• Beverly Hanson
• Maggie Birkenshaw
• Sam Sargent

 

Community Official of the Year

This award is named after Sheelagh Redpath, a long standing international umpire who worked for England Netball for 30 years. The award recognises an individual who makes a consistent contribution to community officiating. 

Winner: Jackie Cork

"Jackie has had a huge impact on the Huddersfield and West Yorkshire Netball community. She gives many hours of her time each week mentoring umpires of all standards. She has successfully mentored at least 30 C awards and recently has had a huge part in 4x Huddersfield umpires achieving their B award. She also contributes significantly to the into officiating assessments. This work has resulted in the Huddersfield Netball league producing a large amount of umpires which shows Jackie’s hard work and dedication that she puts into this. 

Jackie is also a C and B award assessor and continues to umpire in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire and the regional leagues."

 Highly commended:

• Amy Stewart
• Christie White
• Rachael Radford

 

Inclusion Award

This is given to an individual or club who work hard to ensure that Netball is a sport for everyone. 

Winner:  Net4All

"Net4All began with an understanding of a limited county sport offer for SEND females. A Netball taster day held in the daytime with girls from local schools enabled participants to attend with familiar people in order to gain trust in the Net4All coaches. Girls inspired and confident from this day, attended the first club in January 2019 and have continued ever since. 

Barriers are broken down for players with SEND to attend, such as building relationships with local Muslim families, enabling a greater realisation of flexibility needed to support,  for example sessions during Ramadan. For girls in the care system, links were forged with children’s homes in order to support their attendance. Sponsorship funded transport for vulnerable families, Christmas parties and social events have all improved confidence and mental health."

Highly commended:

• Helen Thorneloe
• Jo Marshall
• Kirsty Atkinson 

 

Outstanding Contribution of the Year

This award was established in memory of Mary Bullock, who tirelessly developed our sport in many roles including Editor of the All England Netball Association magazine from 1952 - 1981. The outstanding contribution of the year award recognises someone who has shown significant commitment to developing players and volunteers, as well as inspiring and motivating those around them, promoting and celebrating difference. 

Winner: Kelly Skiller

"Kelly has led Stormers Netball club in every aspect for many years. Not only is she the Chairperson, running the day to day of the club, she is also Head Coach of the first team competing in the Yorkshire Premier League and Head Coach of the second, third and fourth team, leading multiple sessions a week.

Kelly single-handedly created the club’s mixed Netball section, increasing male participation rates and helping to improve the standard of mixed Netball in South Yorkshire. Kelly leads shooter specific sessions, open to anyone within the region to benefit local players wanting more advice with their technique and game play. Kelly dedicates so much of her own time and efforts to increase the participation levels within Netball."

Highly commended:

• Abigail Tunnacliffe
• Joy Cummings-Douglas
• Kirsty Thackray

 

Pioneer of the Year

This award was established in 1980 by England Netball in memory of committed Netball volunteer Muriel McNally. The Pioneer of the Year innovates, experiments and tests new ideas in Netball. 

Winner: Net4All

"Net4All have been put forward for this award based on their nomination for the inclusion award. Net4All work hard to ensure a truly inclusive and diverse space for all SEND females to be able to take part in Netball and thrive. Building confidence and breaking down barriers, Net4All work tirelessly to ensure everyone gets the opportunity to access the sport."

Highly commended:

• Joy Cummings-Douglas
• Kelly Skiller 
• Sheffield Concord Net4All welfare team - Helen Smith, Gaynor Newton and Leslie Blyth

 

Teacher of the Year

This award recognises a teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to Netball through delivery in education beyond the expectations of their job as a teacher. 

Winner: Cherryl Stafford

"Cherryl is the driving force for developing Netball at New College Doncaster. She delivers Netball to girls within her college, who would otherwise have little opportunity to play Netball post 16. She knows her players well and understands how to get the best out of them, empowering some of them to undertake their level 1 coaching qualifications. Cherryl has raised the profile of Netball not only within the college but also the Doncaster area, resulting in the local Netball programme tripling from just 7 girls to 30."

Highly commended:

• Freya Bignall
• Georgia Taylor
• Kelly Dawson

 

Unsung Hero of the Year (in a league or club)

This recognises someone who has volunteered in any capacity, who has made a significant difference to the club or league in their community. 

 Winner: Sue Mackrill

"Sue is an active and valued member of the West Yorkshire Junior Netball League committee. She’s involved in organising umpires for the whole of the junior league across multiple venues ensuring matches go ahead as planned. At the same time Sue actively encourages individuals such as players and parents to get involved with officiating in West Yorkshire through promoting EN officiating courses and providing training opportunities with mentors where possible. Through doing this, Sue is helping to grow the number of officials in the game, positively impacting the junior and senior leagues across Yorkshire. 

Sue is also club secretary for Birkenshaw Bells. She also offers her valued support as a key member of staff for Morrisons Netball Club supporting their senior regional premier 1 team as well as their West Yorkshire superleague first team."

Highly commended:

• Amy Stewart
• Anna Bartys
• Sheffield Concord NET4ALL Welfare team: Helen Smith, Gaynor Newton, Leslie Blyth

 

Young Volunteer of the Year

This award is given to a volunteer aged between 12 and 25, who is a positive role model and inspires the Netball community. 

Winner: Emily Garner

"Emily gives up her week nights to be an assistant coach to the junior teams at Wakefield Phoenix Netball club. At the same time she is currently working towards completing her officiating B award and her coaching level 2 award. 

On a weekend you will find her managing a team or officiating for the junior leagues in West Yorkshire. This year she also joined the club committee as a social media officer. Emily has been extremely influential in liaising with new members and sharing team information. Making an outstanding impact on the whole team, she makes training sessions fun and is an incredible ambassador for Netball and young people.

Emily’s impact is further demonstrated as she received an outstanding 11 nominations in this category."  

Highly commended:

• Esme Heanue
• Isabelle Hall
• Phoenix Peel

Congratulation to all individuals and clubs nominated for a ONE Award – we’re proud of all our volunteers delivering Netball across Yorkshire.