Richard Blake Leading Light Award for Bishop's Stortford's Barbara Papper

Bishop's Stortford's Barbara Papper has been awarded a Richard Blake Leading Light Award for people who are showing a way to make the lives of others with learning disabilities better.

Barbara has been working at the Mudlarks Garden Café in Hertford for the past four years.

The charity provides training and paid work for adults with learning disabilities. She is a member of the Saturday team and has recently moved from serving customers to working in the kitchen preparing food.

She is described as "hardworking and committed" and "a leading light" to younger staff who work at the café. In the week, Barbara also works as a cleaner and attends college where she is improving her patchwork skills.

Her hard work was recognised at Hertfordshire's annual Rumble Awards, created, hosted and organised by the Pioneer Spirits who themselves have learning disabilities.

Fun-loving Josh Mardell from Braughing was crowned Hertfordshire's Learning Disability Personality of the Year.

He regularly attends a community gardening project where he works on an allotment. His nomination form said: "Josh is a fun-loving, kind-hearted, hardworking young man. He makes everyone's day a happy one. If you're feeling down or the weather is wet, he will also find something funny to say or do to brighten your day."

The Rumble Awards were launched in 2011, in honour of the late Keith Rumble, who was one of the founder members of the Pioneer Spirits, who create performances that deliver key messages about learning disabilities and differences. The event is supported by Hertfordshire's Learning Disability Partnership Board.