Outstanding Community Champions recognised with Wirral Awards
Wallasey Town Hall played host to the annual Wirral Awards presentation, honouring local people and organisations whose dedication, service and achievements have made a remarkable difference to the borough.
The Mayor of Wirral, Councillor Brian Kenny, welcomed nominees, families and guests to the historic Round Room, praising this year’s recipients for their talent, passion and commitment, and for helping to enrich life on the peninsula.
The Mayor said:
This year’s recipients reflect the huge range of good work happening across Wirral. We are blessed with so many active, engaged people and organisations who do so much to improve life for our residents.
On behalf of the Council - and the many thousands of residents who enjoy or benefit from the efforts of these amazing people and organisations - it was a great honour to say thank you and tell them how much they are appreciated.
Each autumn, residents, councillors and local organisations are invited to nominate individuals or groups who have shown exceptional achievement in the past year, or who have provided more than 20 years of distinguished service to the borough. A cross‑party panel of councillors then reviews all nominations to determine which are deserving of this prestigious civic honour.
The Wirral Award recipients are:
Ray Ainstrop - Ray has voluntarily dedicated his time to running the Wirral Boys Club in Moreton for more than 40 years. His commitment has kept the club thriving through difficult times, with Ray taking on every role – from trainer and promoter to fundraiser and caretaker.
Much of the club’s equipment and upkeep has been provided through his efforts, and often from his own pocket. His hard work has given generations of boys a safe, positive environment that kept them occupied, engaged and away from potential trouble.
Ray is respected by everyone who meets him and deeply appreciated by the many young people whose lives he has touched — including those who have gone on to successful boxing careers.
David Allan - A driving force behind community and conservation projects in Eastham for more than 20 years, David Allan is Chair of the Eastham Village Preservation Association and a long‑standing volunteer in local heritage groups. His work includes village restoration projects, environmental improvements, campaign support, and active involvement in archaeology and railway heritage projects.
Debbie Davies - With more than 30 years of service at Shaftesbury Youth Club, Debbie is celebrated for her extraordinary dedication to supporting children, young people and families across Wirral. She leads the club’s grassroots football programme, supports thousands of young people each year, and provides vital pastoral help to families in crisis. She also volunteers with the Wirral Sunday League, offering advice and support to managers and volunteers across the borough.
Hoylake RNLI Lifeboat Station - With a history dating back to 1803, Hoylake RNLI has provided more than 20 years of consistently outstanding service acknowledged in this year’s awards. Between 2005 and 2025, the volunteer crew launched to more than 500 incidents and helped rescue around 300 people, including during major emergencies such as the 2018 Storm Emma yacht rescue and a complex 2023 kite surfer operation.
The station also plays an important role in community education, fundraising and safety programmes, and recently introduced the advanced Shannon‑class lifeboat, improving response times by 20%.
Michelle Naylor - Michelle is honoured for more than two decades of service and for founding Shine Together, a new community and youth hub created entirely without external funding. In just one month, she transformed a neglected building into a thriving centre offering daily youth sessions, hot meals, family support and a social supermarket. Her compassion, determination and leadership have created a vital lifeline for local families.
Jerry Williams - Jerry Williams has been a tireless advocate for culture and heritage across the borough, including as Wirral’s Heritage Champion for the past decade. He continues to work closely with local groups to safeguard the area’s history, promote its cultural assets and support community heritage projects.
Jerry is also a Wirral Councillor and was first elected in 1996. He currently represents the Upton Ward.
Rory Wilmer - Founder of New Brighton Creative Futures CIC, Rory has played a leading role in protecting and expanding New Brighton’s much‑loved mural trail. Since forming the CIC in 2024, he has worked with partners across Wirral to safeguard existing artworks, launch a mural restoration programme and deliver new pieces that enhance the town’s growing creative identity.
Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team - This team of 22 highly trained volunteers is on call around the clock, responding to emergencies along Wirral’s coastline. In the past year alone, they attended more than 300 incidents, rescuing people from mud, water and other coastal dangers, and assisting with searches for missing persons.
Beyond rescue work, the team delivers essential coastal safety education and produces widely viewed online safety content, reaching more than two million people. Several members are also trained Flood Rescue Technicians, ready to deploy across the country during severe flooding.
