A KIND-HEARTED volunteer who has spent countless hours helping homeless people has been nominated for a York Community Pride Award.

Helen Rawling, of Melrosegate, York, is a member of the volunteer group Sunday Feed at the Spurriergate Centre in York city centre.

The group, funded by All Saints Church, in North Street, serves a full breakfast to the homeless and less fortunate people in the city.

Mother-of-one Helen, 43, has been nominated by another of the group's volunteers, Andrew Darbyshire, for a York Community Pride Volunteer of the Year award

Andrew says Helen was a "driving force" in helping the Sunday Feed take off after it was set up in January 2016.

He explained: "In the year it has been running, she has seen the Feed grow to serving 50 to 70 meals every week.

"She's done so much unselfish work for others, the hours that she's spent helping the homeless is incredible.

"The Feed through her hard work has regular donations that means we as a group no long have to pay for all our items."

Food, clothes and toiletries are now donated to the group.

Helen invites vets to drop-in on the Feed on Sundays to look at the dogs owned by homeless people.

Andrew says she has also decorated, furnished, cleaned and fixed a lot of flats that homeless people have moved into.

In addition, she has agreed a deal with Winner Winner's Chicken Shack at the Shambles Market for York's first 'pay it forward' scheme where people can purchase a meal or a drink for a person who is homeless or less fortunate.

"We are so fortunate to work alongside her," Andrew said.

"Through her hard work and dedication the Feed now has over 50 volunteers that work a six week team rota.

"All this was set up by Helen. Her dedication towards the homeless and the feed is an incredible act of kindness. She is also a single mum and has to juggle everything but she never will see anyone suffer."

The awards are run by The Press in partnership with City of York Council and the primary sponsor is York-based healthcare organisation Benenden.

All nominees must live in, or contribute to life in, the City of York Council area.

Three finalists from each category will be invited to the awards ceremony at York Racecourse in October, when the winners will be revealed.

Entries can be submitted to York Community Pride Awards, The Press, 84-86 Walmgate, York YO1 9YN.

You can also nominate online at

yorkpress.co.uk/communitypride.

The closing date for entries is Friday, July 21.

You must include a supporting statement of no more than two sides of A4 with each nomination, and may include a picture, which unfortunately we will be unable to return.