Welcome to the Independent on Sunday’s eighth annual Happy List, a collection of 100 inspirational heroes and heroines whose kindness, ingenuity and bravery make Britain a better place to live.
Founded in 2008 as an antidote to the lists that celebrate wealth as an end in itself, the Happy List is based on a different set of values. It honours individuals who give rather than take; the great Britons doing the very best work who go largely unnoticed and unrewarded.
The Happy List is backed by the Prime Minister. Last year David Cameron introduced Points of Light, the government’s scheme to recognise the work done by inspirational volunteers, some of whom also appear on below.
“The Independent on Sunday’s Happy List is a great way to recognise even more of those hardworking people who go the extra mile to help those around them,” says Cameron. “It’s great to see some Points of Light in this year’s list. They and everyone on it should be very proud of the difference they have made.”
The Happy List relies on you, the IoS’s readers, to sing the praises of the otherwise unsung. This year we had an extraordinary response, with hundreds more nominations submitted than ever before, for which we’d like to say a huge thank you.
In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Show all 96 1 /96 In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Gordon Aikman Awareness raiser After being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in 2014, Gordon from Edinburgh launched his ‘Fightback’ campaign to improve conditions for fellow sufferers. As well as raising over £220,000, he became a trustee for MND Scotland and his campaigning helped persuade Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to double the number of MND specialist nurses. Photo credit: Neil Hanna Neil Hanna In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Foluke Akinlose MBE Awards Founder In 2007 Londoner Foluke launched the annual Precious Awards, a development of her organisation Precious, the UK’s first online magazine and network for women of colour. The awards honour the achievements of entrepreneurial women, and her nominator says it “boosts the confidence of so many women and creates role models for future generations.” In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Nimco Ali and Leyla Hussein FGM campaigners Leading voices against female genital mutilation (FGM), Nimco (pictured) and Leyla, who were both born in Somalia before moving to Britain, co-founded Daughters of Eve which works to protect girls’ rights in communities which practise FGM. Leyla is also chief executive of Hawa’s Haven, raising awareness about gender-based violence in Somali communities in the UK. Photo credit: Paul Grover/REX Paul Grover/REX In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Shamash Alidina Vicky Johnson and Kieran Walton Happiness Curators Sharing joy is what drives this London based trio. They run the Museum of Happiness, a series of interactive, fun workshops exploring how we can all feel happier. Featuring mindfulness, face painting and ‘positive newspapers’ (which include solutions to news stories), they hope to set up a permanent Museums of Happiness in every city. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Jackie Ambler Food Bank Heroine Determined to do something for Stoke-on-Trent, Jackie volunteers at the food bank, where she is said to “make people feel there really is someone who cares about their circumstances – they leave with much more than just three days of food.” She also volunteers at a club for disadvantaged children. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 John Anderson Wildlife rescuer The man behind Blyth Wildlife Rescue in Northumberland which, since 2006, has saved hundreds of injured or orphaned birds and animals every year. It is open 24 hours every day, fields around 750 calls annually, and has developed a network of volunteers, some of whom foster animals until they can be released. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Joyce Anderson Campaigner Royal National Institute of Blind People campaigner from Morpeth, Northumberland, who took a councillor on a blindfolded walk to highlight the difficulties people with sight loss face. Joyce’s tireless work recently led to local buses introducing audio announcements to help remove the barriers that prevent visually impaired people using public transport. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Simon Anderson Fundraiser After a motorcycle accident left Simon paralysed from the waist down he trained his dog Fudge to do everyday tasks, such as picking up keys. Simon, of Taunton, was so inspired he began raising money for charity Support Dogs and ten years on has raised over £50,000 as well as acting as a spokesperson. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Ann Andrews Christmas angel Every year for the past 30 years, charity Surviving Christmas in Hastings has helped those in hardship or distress during the festive period. Ann runs the two-day event which offers free food, medical support, clean clothing, showers, haircuts and entertainment, and helped over 5,000 people last year alone. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Lisa Barker Charity founder After losing her 17-year-old daughter Hayley to leukaemia, Lisa set up HayleysHugs to bring joy to youngsters with life threatening illnesses. Her charity shop of the same name in Burnley helps fund children’s ‘small wishes’ and she distributed Christmas gifts to young hospital patients on the oncology ward that treated her daughter. Photo credit: Kevin McGuinness/Lancashire Telegraph Kevin McGuinness/Lancashire Telegraph In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Abdul Basit Inspired baker Islamic Relief volunteer Abdul combines his social media expertise and kitchen know-how in fundraising project Cakes4Syria, making and delivering baked goods. After starting in his home town Bradford in 2013 it soon went national, with 7,000 cakes ordered in the first year. Since then over £300,000 has been raised to support refugees in Jordan and Lebanon. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Lynne Beckett Fundraiser Internet giant eBay named Lynne as 2014’s top UK charity seller, having raised more then £100,000 for the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, funding over 40 helicopter missions. Lynne, a former nurse from Stourport, spent years treating airlifted patients and now devotes her time to auctioning donated goods. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Dorothy Beeson Wildlife saver Initially using her back garden to rescue and care for swans in the 1980s, Dorothy sold her house to finance the first national swan sanctuary in Egham, where she lived in a caravan. Today, she runs the UK’s largest veterinary-registered swan hospital, and is credited with helping keep our rivers “majestic”. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Samuel Bell Charity founder After being diagnosed with rare Hirschsprung’s disease at birth Glaswegian Sam was given just three months to live. After over 60 operations, today the 16-year-old is the UK’s oldest surviving sufferer. He set up charity Samuel’s Smile to allow children with rare diseases to enjoy days out and meet their favourite celebrities. Photo credit: Grant Parfery photography Grant Parfery photography In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Anthony Bennett Hospital volunteer At 16, Great Ormond Street Hospital patient Anthony of Greenford, west London was given a mere 11 per cent chance after contracting life threatening conditions, including pneumonia. Ten years on, Anthony devotes his spare time to helping patients, fundraising, and telling his story to secure important funding partnerships for the hospital. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Danny Bent Fitness campaigner The self-styled ‘hugging adventurer’, Danny runs Project Awesome, a free morning fitness club for Londoners three times a week. He even buys new attendees a coffee as motivation to get moving. Danny, originally from Buxton, also climbs trees, breaks world records, and snorkels in bogs to spread happiness and raise cash for charities. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Sabir Bham Sportsman For 20 years Sabir has been inspiring young people in Waltham Forest through sport. He founded youth club, Salaam Peace, in the wake of the 7/7 bombings to promote Islam as a peaceful religion. It involves sportspeople, police, youth offending teams, schools and colleges and provides fun, structured activities for the young. Photo credit: Sabera Bham Sabera Bham In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Ian and Pauline Bothwell Charity Superstars This couple has dedicated the past 34 years to caring for the physical and emotional needs of people in South Armagh. In 1984 they set up charity Crossfire Trust in the border area of The Troubles, offering support to families and organising cross-community events for people to come together to eat and talk. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Tracey Bricknell and Jude Weston Charity founders After seeing the devastating effects of cancer on loved ones, this duo from Derby created charity Every Cloud, which aims to boost those fighting cancer by giving them wigs or makeovers. Next they plan to cycle round Britain to fundraise, despite Tracey having “never even been on a bike”. Photo credit: acantrill-jones / Northcliffe Media Ltd acantrill-jones / Northcliffe Media Ltd In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Gbolahan Bright Star teacher Twenty years ago Dagenham teacher Gbolahan started Bright Futurez (also known as the Bright Academy) offering free maths classes to children in areas of high deprivation. He and his wife also provide counselling and mentoring for young people with behavioural problems. “The aim is to bring the best out of each child,” he says. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Mike Bright Volunteer inspirer Helping people “change the world in their pyjamas”, Mike’s ‘micro volunteering’ website Help From Home lists over 800 easy ways for people to volunteer without leaving the house, which has been used by over 10,000 people. This year Mike, who resides is Cardiff, is encouraging people to give up 2015 seconds to do good deeds. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Eddie Brocklesby Fitness Champion Fitness Champion Britain’s oldest female triathlete Eddie, 72, from Vauxhall, London, set up charity Silverfit to increase the number of older people doing physical activity. Eddie champions exercise for mental wellbeing, saying; “It’s not to get us oldies living longer, but enable us to live life to the full, independently and happily.” Photo credit: ©Susanne Hakuba ©Susanne Hakuba In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Fiona Burnett Heroic knitter This Shelter Scotland volunteer has knitted over 676 blankets to raise money for the homeless. Fiona began helping in the charity’s Prestwick shop over 13 years ago and sold her first blanket on her very first day. Since then she has made one every week to sell, with one fetching £40. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Luke Cameron Kindness campaigner This Cheltenham 26-year-old’s New Year’s resolution last year was: 365 days, 365 kind acts. His Good Deed blog logged daily kindnesses, including buying food for strangers, fixing a neighbour’s TV and volunteering at an animal sanctuary. He has extended his mission for another year and inspired others to do good. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Kevin Carr Marathon man Woolacombe barman Kevin ran the equivalent of a marathon every day for almost two years, crossing 26 countries and raising money for the British Red Cross and SANE. Kevin became the fastest man to run round the world (18,000 miles) in 621 days, enduring bear attacks and being hunted by wolves along the way. hardwayround.com In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Doug Castle and Colin Coughlin Memorial Savers Part of a team which fought to honour the victims of Cardiff’s only ever recorded mining disaster, which took place in 1875 in the Lan pit in Gwaelod y Garth. They devoted hours to clearing woodland around the mine’s entrance to create a special place to remember those who lost their lives. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Sue and Jim Clifford Super-adopters Over the past 25 years this Berkshire couple have adopted nine children deemed ‘harder to place’. Sue volunteers as an Adoption UK ‘buddy’, providing support for other adopted families, while Jim (who received an OBE for services to social investment) raises the profile of adoption needs at government level. Photo credit: Joanna Latocha Joanna Latocha In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Sam Conniff Youth mentor As the co-founder and chairman of London-based youth marketing agency Livity, Sam has mentored hundreds of young people and helped them create campaigns to improve the lives of other youngsters, working with companies including Google, Channel 4 and Barclays. Livity recently expanded to start working in Africa too. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Sister Vianney Connolly Volunteer “A lady filled with love,” is how this Catholic nun from Wrexham is described. She has volunteered for CAFOD for the last 27 years, marching for justice, and lobbying MPs to tackle poverty. Sister Vianney always carries £5 in her pocket every day just in case she meets someone in need. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Jenny Cook Young Ambassador After having her large bowel removed aged just five ‘Wee Jenny’ from East Kilbride became determined to improve life for fellow sufferers of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The 12-year-old, who was made a Young Ambassador for Yorkhill Hospital Childrens’ Charity, tirelessly raises money for them and charity Crohns and Colitis UK. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Barry Coppock Super Volunteer Since he began helping the Stroke Association in 2008, Brian has run hundreds of events offering free blood pressure tests, securing a regular testing programme in London libraries. As well as delivering talks to help stroke prevention, Brian, of Chingford, also supervises new volunteers and helps coordinate the charity’s events. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Katie Cutler Fundraiser When Gateshead resident Katie heard that local disabled pensioner Alan Barnes had been mugged on his doorstep, leaving him too afraid to return home, she began raising money for him. Over £330,000 was donated, and Katie has since founded her own foundation to help fundraise for other deserving people. Photo credit: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images Ian Forsyth/Getty Images In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Jane Davis Reading advocate Jane, from Birkenhead, founded The Reader Organisation, a national charity working in prisons, care homes and mental health centres to connect people and improve wellbeing through shared reading. It runs over 360 shared reading groups each week and created the world’s first International Centre for Reading and Wellbeing in Liverpool. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Wendy Daws Inspirational artist Founder of the Kent Association for the Blind Medway Art Group, artist Wendy brings together visually impaired people (aged from 52 to 96), who are often excluded from being creative and helps them experience art. Their recent spray-paint graffiti exhibition won the Epic Award for exceptional work with disabled people. Photo credit: Gary Weston | Spaghetti Weston Ltd Gary Weston | Spaghetti Weston Ltd In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Rajeeb Dey Social entrepreneur At 17, Rajeeb set up StudentVoice, a social enterprise which represents the interests of secondary school students in national education policy making. A champion of young people, Londoner Rajeeb has since founded Enternships.com to aid youngsters secure paid internships, and also co-founded StartUp Britain to nurture entrepreneurial culture. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Mario Di Maio Mountain rescue Former leader of the Aberdeen Mountain Rescue team who was involved in over 600 rescues from the hills of lower Donside and Deeside over 44 years, saving hundreds of lives. Mario retired at the age of 60 last year, but continues to volunteer, training new recruits and educating young people in mountain safety. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Sue and Paul Dixon Charity founders The Dixons, from South Derbyshire, created and coordinate Shoutout, a charity for adults with additional needs. Alongside running a drop in centre every Friday night, they organise activities such as sailing courses, cookery classes and camping weekends. “They feel like a family to me,” their nominator says. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 James Everett, Drew Wright and Warren Wilson Happy lads These three residents of Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People in Loughborough led a group, most of whom suffer from a form of muscular dystrophy, to re-create Pharrell Williams’ hit video Happy because they wanted to tell everyone what a happy place Rainbows actually is. It has since had over 6,000 views. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Trevor and Sheila Fairhurst Charity founders After their daughter Carly was killed by her boyfriend aged 19, the Fairhursts created The Carly Fund to raise awareness of domestic violence. They have raised over £55,000 to enable Victim Support to continue its counselling service in their hometown of Wigan, and also speak to victims themselves. Photo credit: Bill Morris / Greater Manchester Police Bill Morris / Greater Manchester Police In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 David Feindouno Community uniter Guinea-born David, now residing in Plymouth, fled his home country after escaping a brutal attack. He settled in the UK in 2008 and, as well as mentoring immigrants and asylum seekers, founded Plymouth Hope Football Club then Plymouth Hope Charity, offering community events and training programmes with a view to promoting social inclusion. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Gwyneth Fookes Historian Gwyneth has spent the past 35 years voluntarily educating the public about Caterham, Purley, Warlingham and district. As well as being vice-president of local history group The Bourne Society, the 80-year-old edits their Local History Records, organises, and raises funds. She is here as a representative of all Britain’s dedicated local historians. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Reverend Jan Gould Music maker Cardiff vicar Jan set up Making Music Changing Lives, a community music group giving children the chance to learn a musical instrument. Jan brings together volunteers, including professional musicians, to teach over 70 children each week. She received the Prime Minister’s Points of Light award for her commitment. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Elizabeth Grier-Menager Coat collector Four years ago Elizabeth set up Wrap Up London, collecting over 42,000 unwanted winter coats at Underground stations and distributing them to the homeless across the Capital. She has since founded HandsOn London, a charity that makes it easier for people to find volunteering opportunities near them. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Sally and Andrew Hall Fundraisers After their son Skye, 5, was diagnosed with a brain tumour last year, he decided to try to make a loom band long enough to reach the moon to fundraise for medical research. Skye sadly died in August, and ever since Sally and Andrew, of Oxfordshire, have worked tirelessly to promote his #LoomToTheMoon challenge, raising over £120,000 for Blue Skye Thinking, the charity set up as a legacy to Skye. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Sebastian Handley Library founder This artist created the capital’s smallest library inside a disused red phone box in Lewisham, south London. He spent £500 of his own money on ceiling lights, carpet and seven shelves. It houses over 200 books, with a whole shelf dedicated to children’s literature, and is looked after by two librarians. Sebastian Handley In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Dominique Harrison-Bentzen Good Samaritan When art student Dominique lost her bank card in Preston, a homeless man called ‘Robbie’ offered her £3 to help her get home. She was so touched that she launched an appeal to get him a flat. It raised £42,000, which will enable a local homeless charity to house ‘Robbie’ and others. Picture credit: PENTAX Image PENTAX Image In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Hilary Henriques Campaigner The National Association for Children of Alcoholics, which Hilary co-founded in Bristol, provides a free country-wide counsellor phoneline which she has staffed every Christmas Day since 2002. As well as training over 1,000 volunteers, the Helpline Model of Care she developed is shared with agencies as an example of excellence. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Alex Holmes Anti-bullying Campaigner Bullied while at school, Londoner Alex now campaigns against bullying with national youth charity The Diana Award. He heads up the Diana Antibullying Ambassadors Campaign which works with over 16,000 young people in schools across the UK. He also helped secure partnerships with companies including Facebook to promote the scheme. Photo credit: Barrie Downie / (C) CHANNEL 5 Barrie Downie / (C) CHANNEL 5 In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Phillip Howells Active OAP Voted the UK’s most Over Active Pensioner in a competition by Senior Railcard, this 68-year-old from Ledbury has run 167 marathons to date, with a lifetime target of 333. Despite a back operation and being diagnosed with a heart condition, Phillip plans to compete in an ultra-triathlon Ironman event by the time he is 70. He hopes to inspire people of all ages to remain active. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Genny Jones Happiness spreader Genny (AKA the ‘Confident Queen’) from Gravesend wanted to show thanks for the support she received after being made redundant. In 2009 she created Happiness Project Kent, organising fun, inclusive events, including a One Minute Smilence, using her mobile ‘happiness booth’ to spread joy and help people get the most out of life. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Grenville Jones Charity founder Founder of Goldies [‘Golden oldies’], which puts on singing sessions to fight loneliness in later life. Started seven years ago, over 10,000 singing sessions have been organised by a team of thirty session leaders across southern England and Wales. Grenville, of Bath, is planning to open a charity shop next. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Primrose Kaur Panglea Kindness supplier Inspired to do good after the birth of her daughter, Londoner Primrose began doing random acts of kindness. One involved writing happy notes for strangers, composing over 5,000 in July 2014 alone. “She even stopped a young man committing suicide,” her nominator says of the notes, many of which turned up on social media. Photo credit: Dave Willis / Daily Express Dave Willis / Daily Express In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Malcolm Kitson Hospital visitor For the past 14 years Malcolm has devoted three days a week to improving life for older patients at Southampton General Hospital. He leads Time For You, a programme which matches volunteers with patients who wouldn’t normally receive visitors. Described by his nominator as “an inspiration who frees staff up to care”. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Vince Knight Kind builder Builder Vince from Grays, Essex was asked to quote for a wet room for 12-year-old Katie Anderson, who was born with neurofibromatosis, a disease which causes tumours to grow along her nerves. Vince built the £6,000 bathroom for free, persuading local suppliers to donate materials, and completing the project within a week. Photo credit: East News East News In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Luke Lancaster Dyslexic Luke of Crowhurst, East Sussex was assaulted in school after saying he “wanted to learn”. Determined to make it “cool to care”, aged 12 he founded youth-led charity Young Pioneers which helps turn victims into successful survivors as well as encouraging young people to look after their health. Photo credit: Technogym may have issues Technogym In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Natasha Lambert Climber & sailor This teenager from the Isle of Wight defied cerebral palsy to scale Pen Y Fan peak, as well as sailing single-handedly around England’s south west coast to Wales and the Channel from France to England. Although labelled disabled, Natasha is determined to prove she is ‘able’ to achieve her dreams. Photo credit: Ken McKay/ITV/REX Ken McKay/ITV/REX In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Neil Laybourn Good Samaritan When schizophrenia sufferer Jonny Benjamin went to London’s Waterloo Bridge to jump to his death, passer-by Neil from Berrylands, Surrey convinced him to reconsider by assuring him he would overcome the illness. Jonny tracked down Neil six years later and the pair now work with Rethink Mental Illness to raise awareness. Photo credit: Rethink Mental Illness Rethink Mental Illness In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 James Light Kindness spreader A film-making whizz from Ringwood, New Forest, who spends his spare time making brilliant videos to promote The Kindness Offensive, a non-profit London-based organisation which performs Random Acts of Kindness. James was instrumental in helping to deliver a record-breaking number of Christmas presents to disadvantaged children across the UK. David at Kindness Offensive In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Detlef Lorenz Entrepreneur For the last 14 years, this retired businessman from Dollar, Clackmannanshire has helped dozens of disadvantaged young people start their own companies in his role as a mentor for The Prince’s Trust. His nominee called Detlef “Wise and adored, he goes the extra mile to help get them up and running.” In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Fred Marquis Good Samaritan Fred helps to run The 999 Club in Deptford, London which has an open door policy for anyone feeling desperate or lonely with no one to turn to. Entirely funded by donations, the club receives 1,375 visits every week and offers immediate support, friendship and links with professional agencies. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Ann Maxwell Charity founder When Ann’s son Muir was diagnosed with a rare form of epilepsy, she set up charity The Muir Maxwell Trust from her Midlothian home. Despite battling against bone cancer, Ann now runs the biggest charity for paediatric epilepsy in the UK, raising over £8million, and distributing more than 3,000 free epilepsy alarms. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Ted McCaffery Hospital fund-raiser Before undergoing open-heart surgery, six-year-old Ted from Stockton Heath discovered his TV in Alder Hey Children’s hospital was not working. Just nine weeks after the operation Ted completed a mini-triathlon to raise funds so that other children in hospital wouldn’t feel ‘bored’, and has since raised £20,000. Photo credit: Mirror Pix Mirror Pix In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Carmel McConnell Breakfast giver Carmel remortgaged her north London home to set up charity Magic Breakfast, delivering the first meal of the day to more than 443 primary schools in deprived areas. Six million have been handed out so far. She also founded social enterprise Magic Outcomes to help the neediest schools form community and business partnerships. Photo credit: Justin Sutcliffe Justin Sutcliffe In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Betty McGlinchey Foster mum After her friend Lily Martin died, Betty didn’t hesitate to take in and raise her two young daughters. She and husband Seamus, who live in Coventry, have since fostered more than 1,200 youngsters over four decades and continue to do so. They include victims of child labour and unaccompanied child asylum seekers. Photo credit: Nicholas Bowman / Daily Mirror / Mirrorpix Nicholas Bowman / Daily Mirror / Mirrorpix In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Danielle McGriskin Charity Ambassador Four years ago doctors diagnosed Danielle from Lisburn, Northern Ireland with a brain tumour and water on the brain, ailments she nicknamed ‘Annie and Heidi’. Soon after Danielle underwent the first of many operations she became a Young Ambassador for The Brain Tumour Charity, and has since raised over £100,000 for research. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Errol McKellar Survivor Hackney mechanic Errol survived prostate cancer and went from being ashamed to mention his illness to speaking to 100 people about it every day. He offers discounts to customers who promise to ask their doctor about getting tested, and as a result 26 men have been diagnosed with the disease. Photo credit: Nils Jorgensen/REX Nils Jorgensen/REX In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Fred and Vivian Morgan Youth rescuers After hearing about a bullied schoolgirl who committed suicide, Fred and Vivian (aged 94 and 72) decided to devote their retirement to preventing further tragedies. The grandparents converted their ten-bedroom home in Hatton, Warwickshire into a school for troubled pupils and have since helped 20 youngsters recover from torment, with many going on to college. [email protected] In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Ruairidh Morison Fundraiser Ru lives in Shinewater Court, a specialist accommodation for adults with physical disabilities in Eastbourne. He is committed fundraiser for #ConnectAbility, The Disability Trust’s appeal to buy specialist communication technology which would give Ru and his fellow residents more independence. “He never stops smiling and makes everyone else happy,” says Ru’s nominator. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Sue Moss Girl guider After decades as a much-loved Girl Guiding leader in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, Sue now mentors younger leaders and helps struggling groups. She also runs the local Trefoil Guild, which keeps older members in contact with Guiding and undertakes cycling challenges to fundraise to rebuild the Guide Centre after it fell into disrepair. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Evie Murray Gardening champion Single mum Evie founded Leith Community Crops in Pots, a project to encourage people to grow vegetables in urban spaces. It now involves hundreds of members, including gardening clubs for toddlers and schools. Evie is credited with “making people get involved in their community and believing in our power to change the world”. Photo credit: Rachel Hein Rachel Hein In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Brian Nolan Conservationist Nature lover Brian loves birds so much he spent several days dressed as a Blue Tit to raise money for his local Royal Society for the Protection of Birds group in Castle Douglas, Scotland. He also organizes monthly talks throughout the year and acts as an ambassador for protecting wildlife. Photo credit: © Majdanik Photography © Majdanik Photography In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Nazek Ramadan Migrant empowerer Having come to Britain as a refugee from Lebanon in the 80s, Nazek launched the New Londoners newspaper in 2007 to publicise migrant and asylum issues. Three years later she founded campaign Migrant Voice to address the lack of migrants in the media, and fought xenophobia in this year’s election campaign. Photo credit: Teri Pengilley/The Independent Teri Pengilley/The Independent In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Alan Richards The chick man Retired taxi driver Alan worked with charity Equal Arts to help develop HenPower, a project that allows Gateshead residents to look after chickens to reduce social isolation. Alan and the rest of the team of ‘Hensioners’ (all aged over 70) put on regular ‘hen roadshows’ where they take the poultry into care homes and primary schools. Photo credit: David Charlton photography David Charlton photography In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Nicola Richardson Campaigner Ever since the death of her 17-month-old son Alexander in 2007, Nicola, from Sheffield, has fought to raise awareness of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. As well as blogging, fundraising and lobbying the government, she is a ‘parent befriender’ for The Lullaby Trust charity, providing a lifeline for other grieving families. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 George Rogers Waterways saver Derby man George is a canal restoration volunteer for Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) who has worked on more than 500 miles of UK waterway restoration schemes. Inspired to join WRG after doing a summer canal camp five years ago, George now teaches the skills necessary to maintain our waterways as a ‘canal camp’ leader. Photo credit: Gemma Bolton / [email protected] [email protected] In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Robert Sayers Gardening advocate Robert volunteers with Putting Down Roots, a London gardening group for the homeless run by St Mungo’s Broadway. Not only does the work help improve their mental and physical health, Robert guides them towards achieving horticultural qualifications as part of the programme, giving them skills to find work and live independently. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Emily Smith Environmentalist The Plastic Challenge saw Londoner Emily give up single-use plastic for 40 days, raising awareness of the harmful impact our throwaway culture has on the oceans. As a volunteer for the Marine Conservation Society she has also helped remove tonnes of litter from UK beaches and campaigned for protected areas. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Helen Smith Volunteer Helen from Bromley has supported IODR (Indian Ocean Disaster Relief) since it was founded to provide emergency help in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami. A committed Cub leader, Helen dedicates her time to organising fundraising events to help children, whether they are those affected by natural disasters or those living in poverty the UK. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Solomon Smith Homeless feeder Two years ago, this youth support worker founded the Brixton Soup Kitchen. Since then, thanks to Solomon’s energy and money, it has served more than 10,000 meals, and run CV workshops, and given advice on getting jobs, housing, and benefits. Once diagnosed with dyslexia, Solomon recently earned a degree in marketing. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Oliver Speight Charity founder After the tragic death of his son Mark Speight, the BBC children’s TV presenter who committed suicide in 2007, Oliver set up Speight of the Art, to help children through art. Oliver, from Newcastle, sold his house to finance the charity, which has expanded to work with the elderly and hospitalised, reaching over 15,000 people. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Richard Spindler Super-volunteer This year marks Richard’s 50th year of service with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in Weston-super-Mare. As a volunteer he has helped save hundreds of lives, specialising in swimming off the boat in especially treacherous rescues. Although now retired he continues to fundraise and run local education projects. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Gordon Taylor Youth mentor Whether it’s helping a young person prepare for a job interview or guiding them through a personal crisis, longstanding Centrepoint volunteer Gordon, from west London, is described by one mentee as “a guiding light”. He also took part in the youth homelessness charity’s Big Sleep Out, raising over £12,000. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Jenni Thomas Family supporter A nurse who pioneered counselling and help for families of children who had died, in 1994 she founded Child Bereavement UK in a bedroom at her Buckinghamshire home. Since then, it has grown, got its own headquarters, and, thanks to grandmother Jenni, helped huge numbers of families. Jenni Thomas In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Margaret Thrush Fund-raiser This Mumbles woman has been rattling a charity collection bucket under the noses of pub-goers in South Wales for an astonishing 60 years. In that time she has raised a sum which is now heading towards £2m – including, recently, more than £150,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support. MacMillan Nurses c/o David Nicholson In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Audrey Tibbles First aider Starting in 1943, Audrey was a British Red Cross first aid volunteer for 57 years. She was on duty at the Coronation and at Winston Churchill’s funeral. Since 2000, the Beckenham woman, now in her late 80s, has served the Red Cross on committees and by raising more than £55,000. Photo credit: Robin Stanndard In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Henry Timms Mega giver This is the man behind the international movement Giving Tuesday, encouraging everyone to do one thing for charity on the first Tuesday of December. Henry, who now lives in New York, developed it as a reaction to America’s Black Friday sales. Now people in over 60 countries come together to celebrate generosity. Photo credit: Susannah Ireland Susannah Ireland In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Alan Toogood Samaritan Alan joined the central London Samaritans as a volunteer in 1964, and was trained by the charity’s founder Chad Varah. During 50 years of service Alan, who lives in Harrow, has taken approximately 9,000 hours of calls from the public and helped to implement Samaritans prison listener scheme in Holloway prison. Photo credit: © Frantzesco Kangaris © Frantzesco Kangaris In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Andrew Ward Farming Saviour Farmer Andrew of Leadenham, Lincolnshire set up Forage Aid to help fellow farmers hit by massive snowstorms in 2013 and last year’s Somerset floods. The scheme quickly delivered thousands of tonnes of donated hay and animal food, and organised temporary homes for livestock, helping devastated farms survive the extreme weather. Photo credit: Farmpress Farmpress / c/o Peter Hill In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Roger Watkins Charity builder For 20 years Roger, a business consultant from Tonbridge, Kent, has worked with the Cranfield Trust, bringing in volunteer management experts to help charities better develop and handle their affairs. His nominator says his help has made a vast difference to the more than 500 charities he has assisted. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Barbara Wesley Fundraiser After her grand-daughter was diagnosed with a rare liver disease, Barbara, from Worthing, got involved with the West Sussex branch of the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation. She is now chair, and has helped the group raise more than £200,000 for the Foundation. And her grand-daughter is now a nurse. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Jo White Music bringer With her organization Wishing Well, Jo has pioneered bringing music to patients in East and West Sussex hospitals. She and fellow musicians create soothing sounds in special care baby units, and cheering ones in children’s and dementia wards, where patients love to join in where they can. In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Fiona Willetts Victim helper Fiona, of Bewdley, Worcestershire has been a volunteer with Victim Support for almost five years. Her nominator says: “I’ve lost count of the victims who have said she is the reason they have managed to cope.” One said: “If it wasn’t for Fiona, I would not be here. She deserves a medal.” In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Mark Wilson and Ali Ghorbangholi Life savers London’s Air Ambulance doctor Mark from Wapping and IT guru Ali from west London co-founded the GoodSAM smartphone app. When there is an emergency, the app alerts nearby medically trained ‘Good Samaritans’ who have signed up. With over 7,000 registered users to date, it enables faster medical intervention, increasing the chance of saving lives. Siobhra Murphy In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Howard Wood Conservationist This diver from the Isle of Arran co-founded Community of Arran Seabed Trust, which has done much to fight over-fishing and dredging, and conserve the marine environment. It was successful in establishing Britain’s first ‘no-take’ zone in 2008, and, as a result, species like scallops are now recovering well. Photo credit: Goldman Prize Goldman Prize In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Robert Worsley Countryside saver A shining example of someone who values his neighbours and landscape far above wealth. Robert rejected an offer of £275 million for his 550-acre farm in Twineham, West Sussex from developers who wanted to build 10,000 homes there. He said: “We are a rural community who don’t want to see Sussex ruined.” Photo credit: Invicta Kent Media/REX Invicta Kent Media/REX In Pictures: Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 Mohammed Zafran Community activist After his brother-in-law was fatally stabbed, Zaf, a liaison officer at a Birmingham college, set up All 4 Youth and Community academy to reach out to young people through sports activities. It has got local firms and football clubs to join in helping nearly 8,000 youngsters, including 2,000 young Asian women.
This year’s list includes: a foster mum who has cared for over 1,200 children over four decades; a teenage cerebral palsy sufferer who defied the odds to sail the Channel; one of Britain’s longest serving Samaritans; a woman who has cleared tonnes of plastic from Britain’s beaches; and a farmer so passionate about preserving the countryside he refused an offer of £275 million to develop his land.
These are the smiling faces that truly deserve celebration. And, unlike other lists, the Happy List is not a crass hierarchy but a completely unranked celebration of good deeds, large and small. They are all to be equally applauded. In these disordered times of sharp division, let’s salute these extraordinary efforts that make for a better Britain.
Independent on Sunday’s Happy List 2015 – in full
Gordon Aikman
Awareness raiser
After being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in 2014, Gordon from Edinburgh launched his ‘Fightback’ campaign to improve conditions for fellow sufferers. As well as raising over £220,000, he became a trustee for MND Scotland and his campaigning helped persuade Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to double the number of MND specialist nurses.
Foluke Akinlose MBE
Awards Founder
In 2007 Londoner Foluke launched the annual Precious Awards, a development of her organisation Precious, the UK’s first online magazine and network for women of colour. The awards honour the achievements of entrepreneurial women, and her nominator says it “boosts the confidence of so many women and creates role models for future generations.”
Nimco Ali and Leyla Hussein
FGM campaigners
Leading voices against female genital mutilation (FGM), Nimco and Leyla, who were both born in Somalia before moving to Britain, co-founded Daughters of Eve which works to protect girls’ rights in communities which practise FGM. Leyla is also chief executive of Hawa’s Haven, raising awareness about gender-based violence in Somali communities in the UK.
Shamash Alidina, Vicky Johnson and Kieran Walton
Happiness Curators
Sharing joy is what drives this London based trio. They run the Museum of Happiness, a series of interactive, fun workshops exploring how we can all feel happier. Featuring mindfulness, face painting and ‘positive newspapers’ (which include solutions to news stories), they hope to set up a permanent Museums of Happiness in every city.
Jackie Ambler
Food Bank Heroine
Determined to do something for Stoke-on-Trent, Jackie volunteers at the food bank, where she is said to “make people feel there really is someone who cares about their circumstances – they leave with much more than just three days of food.” She also volunteers at a club for disadvantaged children.
John Anderson
Wildlife rescuer
The man behind Blyth Wildlife Rescue in Northumberland which, since 2006, has saved hundreds of injured or orphaned birds and animals every year. It is open 24 hours every day, fields around 750 calls annually, and has developed a network of volunteers, some of whom foster animals until they can be released.
Joyce Anderson
Campaigner
Royal National Institute of Blind People campaigner from Morpeth, Northumberland, who took a councillor on a blindfolded walk to highlight the difficulties people with sight loss face. Joyce’s tireless work recently led to local buses introducing audio announcements to help remove the barriers that prevent visually impaired people using public transport.
Simon Anderson
Fundraiser
After a motorcycle accident left Simon paralysed from the waist down he trained his dog Fudge to do everyday tasks, such as picking up keys. Simon, of Taunton, was so inspired he began raising money for charity Support Dogs and ten years on has raised over £50,000 as well as acting as a spokesperson.
Ann Andrews
Christmas angel
Every year for the past 30 years, charity Surviving Christmas in Hastings has helped those in hardship or distress during the festive period. Ann runs the two-day event which offers free food, medical support, clean clothing, showers, haircuts and entertainment, and helped over 5,000 people last year alone.
Lisa Barker
Charity founder
After losing her 17-year-old daughter Hayley to leukaemia, Lisa set up HayleysHugs to bring joy to youngsters with life threatening illnesses. Her charity shop of the same name in Burnley helps fund children’s ‘small wishes’ and she distributed Christmas gifts to young hospital patients on the oncology ward that treated her daughter.
Abdul Basit
Inspired Baker
Islamic Relief volunteer Abdul combines his social media expertise and kitchen know-how in fundraising project Cakes4Syria, making and delivering baked goods. After starting in his home town Bradford in 2013 it soon went national, with 7,000 cakes ordered in the first year. Since then over £300,000 has been raised to support refugees in Jordan and Lebanon.
Lynne Beckett
Fundraiser
Internet giant eBay named Lynne as 2014’s top UK charity seller, having raised more then £100,000 for the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, funding over 40 helicopter missions. Lynne, a former nurse from Stourport, spent years treating airlifted patients and now devotes her time to auctioning donated goods.
Dorothy Beeson
Wildlife saver
Initially using her back garden to rescue and care for swans in the 1980s, Dorothy sold her house to finance the first national swan sanctuary in Egham, where she lived in a caravan. Today, she runs the UK’s largest veterinary-registered swan hospital, and is credited with helping keep our rivers “majestic”.
Samuel Bell
Charity founder
After being diagnosed with rare Hirschsprung’s disease at birth Glaswegian Sam was given just three months to live. After over 60 operations, today the 16-year-old is the UK’s oldest surviving sufferer. He set up charity Samuel’s Smile to allow children with rare diseases to enjoy days out and meet their favourite celebrities.
Anthony Bennett
Hospital volunteer
At 16, Great Ormond Street Hospital patient Anthony of Greenford, west London was given a mere 11 per cent chance after contracting life threatening conditions, including pneumonia. Ten years on, Anthony devotes his spare time to helping patients, fundraising, and telling his story to secure important funding partnerships for the hospital.
Danny Bent
Fitness campaigner
The self-styled ‘hugging adventurer’, Danny runs Project Awesome, a free morning fitness club for Londoners three times a week. He even buys new attendees a coffee as motivation to get moving. Danny, originally from Buxton, also climbs trees, breaks world records, and snorkels in bogs to spread happiness and raise cash for charities ProjectAwesomeLondon.com
Sabir Bham
Sportsman
For 20 years Sabir has been inspiring young people in Waltham Forest through sport. He founded youth club, Salaam Peace, in the wake of the 7/7 bombings to promote Islam as a peaceful religion. It involves sportspeople, police, youth offending teams, schools and colleges and provides fun, structured activities for the young.
Ian and Pauline Bothwell
Charity Superstars
This couple has dedicated the past 34 years to caring for the physical and emotional needs of people in South Armagh. In 1984 they set up charity Crossfire Trust in the border area of The Troubles, offering support to families and organising cross-community events for people to come together to eat and talk.
Tracey Bricknell and Jude Weston
Charity founders
After seeing the devastating effects of cancer on loved ones, this duo from Derby created charity Every Cloud, which aims to boost those fighting cancer by giving them wigs or makeovers. Next they plan to cycle round Britain to fundraise, despite Tracey having “never even been on a bike”.
Gbolahan Bright
Star teacher
Twenty years ago Dagenham teacher Gbolahan started Bright Futurez (also known as the Bright Academy) offering free maths classes to children in areas of high deprivation. He and his wife also provide counselling and mentoring for young people with behavioural problems. “The aim is to bring the best out of each child,” he says.
Mike Bright
Volunteer inspirer
Helping people “change the world in their pyjamas”, Mike’s ‘micro volunteering’ website Help From Home lists over 800 easy ways for people to volunteer without leaving the house, which has been used by over 10,000 people. This year Mike, who resides is Cardiff, is encouraging people to give up 2015 seconds to do good deeds.
Eddie Brocklesby
Fitness Champion
Britain’s oldest female triathlete Eddie, 72, from Vauxhall, London, set up charity Silverfit to increase the number of older people doing physical activity. Eddie champions exercise for mental wellbeing, saying; “It’s not to get us oldies living longer, but enable us to live life to the full, independently and happily.”
Fiona Burnett
Heroic knitter
This Shelter Scotland volunteer has knitted over 676 blankets to raise money for the homeless. Fiona began helping in the charity’s Prestwick shop over 13 years ago and sold her first blanket on her very first day. Since then she has made one every week to sell, with one fetching £40.
Luke Cameron
Kindness campaigner
This Cheltenham 26-year-old’s New Year’s resolution last year was: 365 days, 365 kind acts. His Good Deed blog logged daily kindnesses, including buying food for strangers, fixing a neighbour’s TV and volunteering at an animal sanctuary. He has extended his mission for another year and inspired others to do good.
Kevin Carr
Marathon man
Woolacombe barman Kevin ran the equivalent of a marathon every day for almost two years, crossing 26 countries and raising money for the British Red Cross and SANE. Kevin became the fastest man to run round the world (18,000 miles) in 621 days, enduring bear attacks and being hunted by wolves along the way.
Doug Castle and Colin Coughlin
Memorial Savers
Part of a team which fought to honour the victims of Cardiff’s only ever recorded mining disaster, which took place in 1875 in the Lan pit in Gwaelod y Garth. They devoted hours to clearing woodland around the mine’s entrance to create a special place to remember those who lost their lives.
Sue and Jim Clifford
Super-adopters
Over the past 25 years this Berkshire couple have adopted nine children deemed ‘harder to place’. Sue volunteers as an Adoption UK ‘buddy’, providing support for other adopted families, while Jim (who received an OBE for services to social investment) raises the profile of adoption needs at government level.
Brian Cole
Cheerfulness Spreader
“Everyone who goes through Twickenham station loves Brian”, said one of many delighted people who praised this South West Trains Gateline Assistant. His personal touch and smiles have even won over college teenagers who wait to high-five him. “His good cheer rubs off and he has the power to make people feel special.”
Sam Conniff
Youth mentor
As the co-founder and chairman of London-based youth marketing agency Livity, Sam has mentored hundreds of young people and helped them create campaigns to improve the lives of other youngsters, working with companies including Google, Channel 4 and Barclays. Livity recently expanded to start working in Africa too.
Sister Vianney Connolly
Volunteer
“A lady filled with love,” is how this Catholic nun from Wrexham is described. She has volunteered for CAFOD for the last 27 years, marching for justice, and lobbying MPs to tackle poverty. Sister Vianney always carries £5 in her pocket every day just in case she meets someone in need.
Jenny Cook
Young Ambassador
After having her large bowel removed aged just five ‘Wee Jenny’ from East Kilbride became determined to improve life for fellow sufferers of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The 12-year-old, who was made a Young Ambassador for Yorkhill Hospital Childrens’ Charity, tirelessly raises money for them and charity Crohns and Colitis UK.
Barry Coppock
Super Volunteer
Since he began helping the Stroke Association in 2008, Brian has run hundreds of events offering free blood pressure tests, securing a regular testing programme in London libraries. As well as delivering talks to help stroke prevention, Barry, of Chingford, also supervises new volunteers and helps coordinate the charity’s events.
Katie Cutler
Fundraiser
When Gateshead resident Katie heard that local disabled pensioner Alan Barnes had been mugged on his doorstep, leaving him too afraid to return home, she began raising money for him. Over £330,000 was donated, and Katie has since founded her own foundation to help fundraise for other deserving people.
Jane Davis
Reading advocate
Jane, from Birkenhead, founded The Reader Organisation, a national charity working in prisons, care homes and mental health centres to connect people and improve wellbeing through shared reading. It runs over 360 shared reading groups each week and created the world’s first International Centre for Reading and Wellbeing in Liverpool.
Wendy Daws
Inspirational Artist
Founder of the Kent Association for the Blind Medway Art Group, artist Wendy brings together visually impaired people (aged from 52 to 96), who are often excluded from being creative and helps them experience art. Their recent spray-paint graffiti exhibition won the Epic Award for exceptional work with disabled people.
Rajeeb Dey
Social entrepreneur
At 17, Rajeeb set up StudentVoice, a social enterprise which represents the interests of secondary school students in national education policy making. A champion of young people, Londoner Rajeeb has since founded Enternships.com to aid youngsters secure paid internships, and also co-founded StartUp Britain to nurture entrepreneurial culture.
Mario Di Maio
Mountain rescue
Former leader of the Aberdeen Mountain Rescue team who was involved in over 600 rescues from the hills of lower Donside and Deeside over 44 years, saving hundreds of lives. Mario retired at the age of 60 last year, but continues to volunteer, training new recruits and educating young people in mountain safety.
Paul and Sue Dixon
Charity founders
The Dixons, from South Derbyshire, created and coordinate Shoutout, a charity for adults with additional needs. Alongside running a drop in centre every Friday night, they organise activities such as sailing courses, cookery classes and camping weekends. “They feel like a family to me,” their nominator says.
James Everett, Drew Wright and Warren Wilson
Happy lads
These three residents of Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People in Loughborough led a group, most of whom suffer from a form of muscular dystrophy, to re-create Pharrell Williams’ hit video Happy because they wanted to tell everyone what a happy place Rainbows actually is. It has since had over 6,000 views.
Trevor and Sheila Fairhurst
Charity founders
After their daughter Carly was killed by her boyfriend aged 19, the Fairhursts created The Carly Fund to raise awareness of domestic violence. They have raised over £55,000 to enable Victim Support to continue its counselling service in their hometown of Wigan, and also speak to victims themselves.
David Feindouno
Community uniter
Guinea-born David, now residing in Plymouth, fled his home country after escaping a brutal attack. He settled in the UK in 2008 and, as well as mentoring immigrants and asylum seekers, founded Plymouth Hope Football Club then Plymouth Hope Charity, offering community events and training programmes with a view to promoting social inclusion.
Gwyneth Fookes
Historian
Gwyneth has spent the past 35 years voluntarily educating the public about Caterham, Purley, Warlingham and district. As well as being vice-president of local history group The Bourne Society, the 80-year-old edits their Local History Records, organises, and raises funds. She is here as a representative of all Britain’s dedicated local historians.
Reverend Jan Gould
Music maker
Cardiff vicar Jan set up Making Music Changing Lives, a community music group giving children the chance to learn a musical instrument. Jan brings together volunteers, including professional musicians, to teach over 70 children each week. She received the Prime Minister’s Points of Light award for her commitment.
Elizabeth Grier-Menager
Coat collector
Four years ago Elizabeth set up Wrap Up London, collecting over 42,000 unwanted winter coats at Underground stations and distributing them to the homeless across the Capital. She has since founded HandsOn London, a charity that makes it easier for people to find volunteering opportunities near them.
Sally and Andrew Hall
Fundraisers
After their son Skye, 5, was diagnosed with a brain tumour last year, he decided to try to make a loom band long enough to reach the moon to fundraise for medical research. Skye sadly died in August, and ever since Sally and Andrew, of Oxfordshire, have worked tirelessly to promote his #LoomToTheMoon challenge, raising over £120,000 for Blue Skye Thinking, the charity set up as a legacy to Skye.
Sebastian Handley
Library founder
This artist created the capital’s smallest library inside a disused red phone box in Lewisham, south London. He spent £500 of his own money on ceiling lights, carpet and seven shelves. It houses over 200 books, with a whole shelf dedicated to children’s literature, and is looked after by two librarians.
Maria Hanson
Charity Founder
Derby charity champion set up Me & Dee in memory of her cousin Delia who died in 2005, to provide seaside breaks to disabled children and adults with life threatening or terminal conditions. The Maria Hanson Foundation now receives over 50 requests a month and also delivers comfort packs to hospitals and hospices.
Dominique Harrison-Bentzen
Good Samaritan
When art student Dominique lost her bank card in Preston, a homeless man called ‘Robbie’ offered her £3 to help her get home. She was so touched that she launched an appeal to get him a flat. It raised £42,000, which will enable a local homeless charity to house ‘Robbie’ and others.
Hilary Henriques
Campaigner
The National Association for Children of Alcoholics, which Hilary co-founded in Bristol, provides a free country-wide counsellor phoneline which she has staffed every Christmas Day since 2002. As well as training over 1,000 volunteers, the Helpline Model of Care she developed is shared with agencies as an example of excellence.
Alex Holmes
Anti-bullying Campaigner
Bullied while at school, Londoner Alex now campaigns against bullying with national youth charity The Diana Award. He heads up the Diana Antibullying Ambassadors Campaign which works with over 16,000 young people in schools across the UK. He also helped secure partnerships with companies including Facebook to promote the scheme.
Phillip Howells
Active OAP
Voted the UK’s most Over Active Pensioner in a competition by Senior Railcard, this 68-year-old from Ledbury has run 167 marathons to date, with a lifetime target of 333. Despite a back operation and being diagnosed with a heart condition, Phillip plans to compete in an ultra-triathlon Ironman event by the time he is 70. He hopes to inspire people of all ages to remain active. Follow @activefit
Genny Jones
Happiness spreader
Genny (AKA the ‘Confident Queen’) from Gravesend wanted to show thanks for the support she received after being made redundant. In 2009 she created Happiness Project Kent, organising fun, inclusive events, including a One Minute Smilence, using her mobile ‘happiness booth’ to spread joy and help people get the most out of life.
Grenville Jones
Charity founder
Founder of Goldies [‘Golden oldies’], which puts on singing sessions to fight loneliness in later life. Started seven years ago, over 10,000 singing sessions have been organised by a team of thirty session leaders across southern England and Wales. Grenville, of Bath, is planning to open a charity shop next.
Primrose Kaur Panglea
Kindness supplier
Inspired to do good after the birth of her daughter, Londoner Primrose began doing random acts of kindness. One involved writing happy notes for strangers, composing over 5,000 in July 2014 alone. “She even stopped a young man committing suicide,” her nominator says of the notes, many of which turned up on social media.
Malcolm Kitson
Hospital visitor
For the past 14 years Malcolm has devoted three days a week to improving life for older patients at Southampton General Hospital. He leads Time For You, a programme which matches volunteers with patients who wouldn’t normally receive visitors. Described by his nominator as “an inspiration who frees staff up to care”.
Vince Knight
Kind builder
Builder Vince from Grays, Essex was asked to quote for a wet room for 12-year-old Katie Anderson, who was born with neurofibromatosis, a disease which causes tumours to grow along her nerves. Vince built the £6,000 bathroom for free, persuading local suppliers to donate materials, and completing the project within a week.
Luke Lancaster
Super-Survivor
Dyslexic Luke of Crowhurst, East Sussex was assaulted in school after saying he “wanted to learn”. Determined to make it “cool to care”, aged 12 he founded youth-led charity Young Pioneers which helps turn victims into successful survivors as well as encouraging young people to look after their health.
Natasha Lambert
Climber & sailor
This teenager from the Isle of Wight defied cerebral palsy to scale Pen Y Fan peak, as well as sailing single-handedly around England’s south west coast to Wales and the Channel from France to England. Although labelled disabled, Natasha is determined to prove she is ‘able’ to achieve her dreams.
Neil Laybourn
Good Samaritan
When schizophrenia sufferer Jonny Benjamin went to London’s Waterloo Bridge to jump to his death, passer-by Neil from Berrylands, Surrey convinced him to reconsider by assuring him he would overcome the illness. Jonny tracked down Neil six years later and the pair now work with Rethink Mental Illness to raise awareness.
James Light
Kindness spreader
A film-making whizz from Ringwood, New Forest, who spends his spare time making brilliant videos to promote The Kindness Offensive, a non-profit London-based organisation which performs Random Acts of Kindness. James was instrumental in helping to deliver a record-breaking number of Christmas presents to disadvantaged children across the UK.
Detlef Lorenz
Entrepreneur
For the last 14 years, this retired businessman from Dollar, Clackmannanshire has helped dozens of disadvantaged young people start their own companies in his role as a mentor for The Prince’s Trust. His nominee called Detlef “Wise and adored, he goes the extra mile to help get them up and running.”
Fred Marquis
Good Samaritan
Fred helps to run The 999 Club in Deptford, London which has an open door policy for anyone feeling desperate or lonely with no one to turn to. Entirely funded by donations, the club receives 1,375 visits every week and offers immediate support, friendship and links with professional agencies.
Ann Maxwell
Charity founder
When Ann’s son Muir was diagnosed with a rare form of epilepsy, she set up charity The Muir Maxwell Trust from her Midlothian home. Despite battling against bone cancer, Ann now runs the biggest charity for paediatric epilepsy in the UK, raising over £8million, and distributing more than 3,000 free epilepsy alarms.
Ted McCaffery
Hospital fund-raiser
Before undergoing open-heart surgery, six-year-old Ted from Stockton Heath discovered his TV in Alder Hey Children’s hospital was not working. Just nine weeks after the operation Ted completed a mini-triathlon to raise funds so that other children in hospital wouldn’t feel ‘bored’, and has since raised £20,000.
Carmel McConnell
Breakfast giver
Carmel remortgaged her north London home to set up charity Magic Breakfast, delivering the first meal of the day to more than 443 primary schools in deprived areas. Six million have been handed out so far. She also founded social enterprise Magic Outcomes to help the neediest schools form community and business partnerships.
Betty McGlinchey
Foster mum
After her friend Lily Martin died, Betty didn’t hesitate to take in and raise her two young daughters. She and husband Seamus, who live in Coventry, have since fostered more than 1,200 youngsters over four decades and continue to do so. They include victims of child labour and unaccompanied child asylum seekers.
Danielle McGriskin
Charity Ambassador
Four years ago doctors diagnosed Danielle from Lisburn, Northern Ireland with a brain tumour and water on the brain, ailments she nicknamed ‘Annie and Heidi’. Soon after Danielle underwent the first of many operations she became a Young Ambassador for The Brain Tumour Charity, and has since raised over £100,000 for research.
Errol McKellar
Survivor
Hackney mechanic Errol survived prostate cancer and went from being ashamed to mention his illness to speaking to 100 people about it every day. He offers discounts to customers who promise to ask their doctor about getting tested, and as a result 26 men have been diagnosed with the disease.
Fred and Vivian Morgan
Youth rescuers
After hearing about a bullied schoolgirl who committed suicide, Fred and Vivian (aged 94 and 72) decided to devote their retirement to preventing further tragedies. The grandparents converted their ten-bedroom home in Hatton, Warwickshire into a school for troubled pupils and have since helped 20 youngsters recover from torment, with many going on to college.
Ruairidh Morison
Fundraiser
Ru lives in Shinewater Court, a specialist accommodation for adults with physical disabilities in Eastbourne. He is committed fundraiser for #ConnectAbility, The Disability Trust’s appeal to buy specialist communication technology which would give Ru and his fellow residents more independence. “He never stops smiling and makes everyone else happy,” says Ru’s nominator.
Sue Moss
Girl guider
After decades as a much-loved Girl Guiding leader in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, Sue now mentors younger leaders and helps struggling groups. She also runs the local Trefoil Guild, which keeps older members in contact with Guiding and undertakes cycling challenges to fundraise to rebuild the Guide Centre after it fell into disrepair.
Evie Murray
Gardening champion
Single mum Evie founded Leith Community Crops in Pots, a project to encourage people to grow vegetables in urban spaces. It now involves hundreds of members, including gardening clubs for toddlers and schools. Evie is credited with “making people get involved in their community and believing in our power to change the world”.
Pauline Nicholls
Meal-giver
Pauline has been running the lunch at St Alban’s church in Westbury Park, Bristol for those who normally eat alone since 1976. Up to 50 people attend the weekly event to socialise and share food, and an estimated 40,000 meals have been provided. Pauline shops, budgets, cooks, and co-ordinates the whole operation.
Brian Nolan
Conservationist
Nature lover Brian loves birds so much he spent several days dressed as a Blue Tit to raise money for his local Royal Society for the Protection of Birds group in Castle Douglas, Scotland. He also organizes monthly talks throughout the year and acts as an ambassador for protecting wildlife.
Nazek Ramadan
Migrant empowerer
Having come to Britain as a refugee from Lebanon in the 80s, Nazek launched the New Londoners newspaper in 2007 to publicise migrant and asylum issues. Three years later she founded campaign Migrant Voice to address the lack of migrants in the media, and fought xenophobia in this year’s election campaign.
Alan Richards
The chick man
Retired taxi driver Alan worked with charity Equal Arts to help develop HenPower, a project that allows Gateshead residents to look after chickens to reduce social isolation. Alan and the rest of the team of ‘Hensioners’ (all aged over 70) put on regular ‘hen roadshows’ where they take the poultry into care homes and primary schools.
Nicola Richardson
Campaigner
Ever since the death of her 17-month-old son Alexander in 2007, Nicola, from Sheffield, has fought to raise awareness of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. As well as blogging, fundraising and lobbying the government, she is a ‘parent befriender’ for The Lullaby Trust charity, providing a lifeline for other grieving families.
George Rogers
Waterways saver
Derby man George is a canal restoration volunteer for Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) who has worked on more than 500 miles of UK waterway restoration schemes. Inspired to join WRG after doing a summer canal camp five years ago, George now teaches the skills necessary to maintain our waterways as a ‘canal camp’ leader.
Robert Sayers
Gardening advocate
Robert volunteers with Putting Down Roots, a London gardening group for the homeless run by St Mungo’s Broadway. Not only does the work help improve their mental and physical health, Robert guides them towards achieving horticultural qualifications as part of the programme, giving them skills to find work and live independently.
Emily Smith
Environmentalist
The Plastic Challenge saw Londoner Emily give up single-use plastic for 40 days, raising awareness of the harmful impact our throwaway culture has on the oceans. As a volunteer for the Marine Conservation Society she has also helped remove tonnes of litter from UK beaches and campaigned for protected areas.
Helen Smith
Volunteer
Helen from Bromley has supported IODR (Indian Ocean Disaster Relief) since it was founded to provide emergency help in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami. A committed Cub leader, Helen dedicates her time to organising fundraising events to help children, whether they are those affected by natural disasters or those living in poverty the UK.
Solomon Smith
Homeless feeder
Two years ago, this youth support worker founded the Brixton Soup Kitchen. Since then, thanks to Solomon’s energy and money, it has served more than 10,000 meals, and run CV workshops, and given advice on getting jobs, housing, and benefits. Once diagnosed with dyslexia, Solomon recently earned a degree in marketing.
Oliver Speight
Charity founder
After the tragic death of his son Mark Speight, the BBC children’s TV presenter who committed suicide in 2007, Oliver set up Speight of the Art, to help children through art. Oliver, from Newcastle, sold his house to finance the charity, which has expanded to work with the elderly and hospitalised, reaching over 15,000 people.
Richard Spindler
Super-volunteer
This year marks Richard’s 50th year of service with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in Weston-super-Mare. As a volunteer he has helped save hundreds of lives, specialising in swimming off the boat in especially treacherous rescues. Although now retired he continues to fundraise and run local education projects.
Gordon Taylor
Youth mentor
Whether it’s helping a young person prepare for a job interview or guiding them through a personal crisis, longstanding Centrepoint volunteer Gordon, from west London, is described by one mentee as “a guiding light”. He also took part in the youth homelessness charity’s Big Sleep Out, raising over £12,000.
Jenni Thomas
Family supporter
A nurse who pioneered counselling and help for families of children who had died, in 1994 she founded Child Bereavement UK in a bedroom at her Buckinghamshire home. Since then, it has grown, got its own headquarters, and, thanks to grandmother Jenni, helped huge numbers of families.
Margaret Thrush
Fund-raiser
This Mumbles woman has been rattling a charity collection bucket under the noses of pub-goers in South Wales for an astonishing 60 years. In that time she has raised a sum which is now heading towards £2m – including, recently, more than £150,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Audrey Tibbles
First aider
Starting in 1943, Audrey was a British Red Cross first aid volunteer for 57 years. She was on duty at the Coronation and at Winston Churchill’s funeral. Since 2000, the Beckenham woman, now in her late 80s, has served the Red Cross on committees and by raising more than £55,000.
Henry Timms
Mega giver
This is the man behind the international movement Giving Tuesday, encouraging everyone to do one thing for charity on the first Tuesday of December. Henry, who now lives in New York, developed it as a reaction to America’s Black Friday sales. Now people in over 60 countries come together to celebrate generosity.
Alan Toogood
Samaritan
Alan joined the central London Samaritans as a volunteer in 1964, and was trained by the charity’s founder Chad Varah. During 50 years of service Alan, who lives in Harrow, has taken approximately 9,000 hours of calls from the public and helped to implement Samaritans prison listener scheme in Holloway prison.
Andrew Ward
Farming Saviour
Farmer Andrew of Leadenham, Lincolnshire set up Forage Aid to help fellow farmers hit by massive snowstorms in 2013 and last year’s Somerset floods. The scheme quickly delivered thousands of tonnes of donated hay and animal food, and organised temporary homes for livestock, helping devastated farms survive the extreme weather.
Roger Watkins
Charity builder
For 20 years Roger, a business consultant from Tonbridge, Kent, has worked with the Cranfield Trust, bringing in volunteer management experts to help charities better develop and handle their affairs. His nominator says his help has made a vast difference to the more than 500 charities he has assisted.
Barbara Wesley
Fundraiser
After her grand-daughter was diagnosed with a rare liver disease, Barbara, from Worthing, got involved with the West Sussex branch of the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation. She is now chair, and has helped the group raise more than £200,000 for the Foundation. And her grand-daughter is now a nurse.
Jo White
Music bringer
With her organization Wishing Well, Jo has pioneered bringing music to patients in East and West Sussex hospitals. She and fellow musicians create soothing sounds in special care baby units, and cheering ones in children’s and dementia wards, where patients love to join in where they can.
Fiona Willetts
Victim helper
Fiona, of Bewdley, Worcestershire has been a volunteer with Victim Support for almost five years. Her nominator says: “I’ve lost count of the victims who have said she is the reason they have managed to cope.” One said: “If it wasn’t for Fiona, I would not be here. She deserves a medal.”
Mark Wilson and Ali Ghorbangholi
Life saver
London’s Air Ambulance doctor Mark from Wapping and IT guru Ali from west London co-founded the GoodSAM smartphone app. When there is an emergency, the app alerts nearby medically trained ‘Good Samaritans’ who have signed up. With over 7,000 registered users to date, it enables faster medical intervention, increasing the chance of saving lives.
Howard Wood
Conservationist
This diver from the Isle of Arran co-founded Community of Arran Seabed Trust, which has done much to fight over-fishing and dredging, and conserve the marine environment. It was successful in establishing Britain’s first ‘no-take’ zone in 2008, and, as a result, species like scallops are now recovering well.
Robert Worsley
Countryside saver
A shining example of someone who values his neighbours and landscape far above wealth. Robert rejected an offer of £275 million for his 550-acre farm in Twineham, West Sussex from developers who wanted to build 10,000 homes there. He said: “We are a rural community who don’t want to see Sussex ruined.”
Robert Young
Marathon man
The epitome of endurance. Having survived an abusive childhood, Robert, from Richmond, Surrey, ran his first marathon in April 2014, and then proceeded to run a world record of 370 in 365 days. In doing so, he has raised money for the NSPCC, Dreams Come True, and Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Mohammed Zafran
Community activist
After his brother-in-law was fatally stabbed, Zaf, a liaison officer at a Birmingham college, set up All 4 Youth and Community academy to reach out to young people through sports activities. It has got local firms and football clubs to join in helping nearly 8,000 youngsters, including 2,000 young Asian women.
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Who did we miss out? Have your say
The Happy List is primarily made up of individuals nominated by you, our readers. This year we had hundreds more submissions than ever before, but who have we missed? Let us know who you would like to see on the Happy List and we will consider your nominations for next year.
Leave your suggestions, with reasons why you think they deserve to be on the list, at independent.co.uk/happylist, via email: [email protected] or write to: The Editor, The Independent on Sunday, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF
Follow us on Twitter: @happylist100 and Facebook: facebook.com/IndependentHappyList
Profiles compiled by Emma Ledger. Picture research by Georgia Pettipher and Sophie Batterbury.
