We are delighted to announce our Community Champions 2025. This year there were so many worthy winners but ultimately our champions were Leighland Hart-Taylor and Martell Rackley, both volunteers with the Bentswood Hub charity. Leighland was nominated for overcoming many family struggles to reengage with his education and give back to the community as a volunteer. While Martell has been instrumental in the setup, planning and delivery of Bentswood Hub’s Just for Girls programme.
Another worthy winner was Yolanda Poulter (pictured) a longtime volunteer at Haywards Heath Grove Garden, a community space for the older generation.
Our final winner was Sue Darnell, who has worked hard to make the Yews Community Centre such a successful meeting space for disadvantaged voluntary local groups. Not only has Sue managed the Centre, but she has also been a tireless fundraiser, a Trustee and a volunteer. She is also a volunteer for the Talking News, despatching and copying memory sticks twice per week, as well as being a reserve reader if needed.
All of these Community Champions have given of their time, energy and expertise in helping to make our local community a better place to live, for which we are all hugely grateful.
Sue is pictured here with the Deputy Mayor of Haywards Heath, Cllr Abdul Bashar, Malcolm Hulatt of the Yews and our Director Gilva Tisshaw.