The Achiever Award – Paul Dixie, Genetik

Both of Paul’s parents were heroin addicts and much of his childhood was spent in foster homes and care. A drug addict himself by his teens, he looked certain to destroy his life in the same way his parents had.

Paul amassed a long criminal record and spent time inside young offenders institutions. It wasn’t until he became a father at 18 that Paul started to seek help. Several attempts at rehab failed but in one clinic he had an encounter with God which led him to apply for The Message Trust’s Genetik course.

Though his background suggested he would be an enormous risk, the content and discipline of the course and tough, hands-on mentoring from people at The Message turned out to be the key to Paul’s restoration. He joined AA and sought out a professional counsellor to work through his past.

Having trained this year as a youth worker, Paul now works hard in his local community of Eccles to help other young people make good choices, sharing his story as an inspiration. He is also completely committed to becoming a great dad to his daughter, Megan.

The Champion Award – Sid Williams

Sid grew up in Rwanda as the son of missionary parents. He watched how his parents put their own lives at risk to protect others as the genocide unfolded in the early 1990s.

After returning to the UK as a teenager and completing school and training as a graphic artist, he made a decision that would change the course of his life.

Influenced by his parent’s acts of compassion, he chose to train as a youth worker and accepted a placement with one of the Message Trust’s first Eden teams, in Harpurhey. Over the last eight years, Sid has placed a special focus on on mentoring at-risk young men, helping them make good choices, find work, and stay out of prison.

Today, Sid still lives and serves in Harpurhey but also gives an increasing amount of time to the Eden Bus, a mobile youth centre which travels around tough neighbourhoods in Greater Manchester and Liverpool.

The Courage Award – Mark Collar

From the Manchester Evening News, February 16, 2012:

A grandmother reunited with the young man who dragged her from a burning house has told him: "Thank you for saving my life."

Mark Collar risked his own safety by dashing into Val Brooks' Gorton home to pull her from the flames. Val was treated by firefighters at the scene after breathing in smoke – but was otherwise unharmed. And now we have reunited the grandmother-of-one with Mark – giving her the chance to thank him for his bravery.

She said: "I was really distressed and I can't remember much of it.

"But I know that Mark saved my life and I'm more than grateful – I wouldn't be here without him."

Mark, 20, made the daring rescue when he was walking home from football practice at Wright Robinson College in Gorton. When he arrived on Melville Close, where Val lived, he noticed an acrid burning smell and saw smoke billowing from an upstairs window of her home.

Mark, who lives in Openshaw, said: "When I got closer, I heard a woman shouting for help. "I went as close to the house as I could and asked the woman to come down.

"She said she was trapped so I just booted the door in and went to get her. She was on the landing so I just got her down the stairs and outside."

Police investigated the possibility that the fire was arson but their inquiries were inconclusive. The cause of the fire is still unknown, but it was thought it started at the back door of the property. The house was so badly damaged by the smoke that Val, 51, has had to move to temporary accommodation in Longsight.

Mark, who plays football for the Salvation Army and volunteers at the Salvation Army charity shop, shrugged off suggestions that he is a hero.

He said: "I was a bit scared but it just felt right. I know I put myself at risk but if someone else is in danger then you have to help them. It was my civic duty."
 
The Inspiration Award – Emma Wilkinson