Sobbing Huddersfield dad 'completely gobsmacked' with award win

Huddersfield dad Ben Carpenter was left 'gobsmacked' and in tears to be given a Carer Award in a special ceremony on Saturday.

Ben, who is a single adoptive parent to six children with additional needs, was recognised at the BBC Radio Leeds Make a Difference awards held at the Royal Armouries in Leeds.

The devoted dad said he didn't set out to win awards and had not expected to win. He told YorkshireLive: "Whenever I win an award, it genuinely shocks me, I don’t do what I do for awards or recognition, I’m just me, little old Ben from Huddersfield.

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"I continue to be so incredibly proud of my children and their achievements."

He added said he was 'completely gobsmacked' on hearing he had won the award and had shed a few tears too. Ben has adopted six children and has also become a foster parent too, helping to look after toddlers and teenagers with short-term placements.

"It was a wonderful evening. The whole evening was just so special in so many ways."

The Carer Award was given to Ben as someone who "improves the life of an individual or group of people through their helpfulness, compassion and support."

The full list of winners:

Volunteer Award - Monica Graham. Monica, 84, helped transform a disused Wakefield school into a community centre.

Community Award - Nichola Holdsworth, of the Morley Grief Group

Fundraiser Award - Team Serenity

Carer Award - Ben Carpenter

Great Neighbour Award - Niall O'Donnell

Bravery Award - Joseph English. Joseph, of Halifax, was injured in a car crash and is now the director of a travel firm that helps people with disabilities travel the world, the BBC reported.

The Green Award - Silsden Repair Cafe

The Animal Award - Shelley Hedgehogs in Huddersfield. The group was founded by volunteers to rehabilitate injured or poorly hedgehogs and then release them back into the wild.

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