STARS of voluntary and community groups working with children and young people were honoured at an awards ceremony.

The Spark Awards 2014 celebrated the achievements of children and young people in East Sussex, as well as the adults who support them.

The awards, sponsored by Southern Water, took place at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill and covered 12 award categories, including the Spark Award for a group or project that deserves special recognition.

The ceremony featured performances by Spark members Seaford Musical Theatre Juniors, Lewes-based Starfish Youth Music bands Laines and Carpet on the Walls and Irish dance group Rinceoiri Ratton from Eastbourne.

Arwyn Thomas, Spark’s chief executive, said: “The aim of the Spark Awards is to highlight the fantastic work of our member groups – to celebrate not only the talent of children and young people across East Sussex, but also the dedication of the adults who work with them.

“This year the quality of the applications has been stronger than ever and the judging panel, made up of representatives from Spark and Southern Water, has not had an easy task choosing winners from a wide range of impressive projects, which are having such a positive impact on their communities.”

Spark is free to join and provides more than 140 voluntary and community groups working with young people in Lewes, Wealden, Eastbourne and Hastings and Rother with access to funding schemes, free and subsidised training, information and networking opportunities.

Here are the winners and runners up: Environmental Achievement Sponsored by Southern Water Junior & Senior Award Winner: Education Futures Trust Sports Achievement Sponsored by Wave Leisure Runners Up: South Coast Vikings In-Line Hockey Team and Bexhill Giants Basketball Club Junior Award Winner: Pevensey and Westham Sports Club Senior Award Winner: Westerleigh Judokwai Health and Wellbeing Achievement Sponsored by John Connor Press Associates Runner Up: Seaford Youth Forum, Newhaven Youth Forum and Lewes Youth Forum: Safety Day Winner: YMCA DownsLink Group: Step UP Project Arts and Culture Achievement Sponsored by Ashdown Audio Visual Junior Award Winner: The Craftimation Factory: Follow the Herring Arts Award Senior Award Winner: Culture Shift: Arts Connect Social Media Achievement Sponsored by Redhead Design Runner Up: Seaford Musical Theatre Juniors: ‘Little Love’ Project Winner: Young Pioneers: #cooltocare Campaign Play Achievement Sponsored by Create 51 Winner: RSPCA Mallydams Wood: Hastings Wild Things Project Advice and Guidance Achievement Sponsored by Sussex Coast College Runner Up: Medway Youth Trust: Youth Employability Service Winner: Little Gate Farm Equality and Inclusion Achievement Sponsored by Albion in the Community Runner Up: Respond Academy Winner: East Sussex Community Voice: Young Inspectors Project Children and Young People-led Project Sponsored by Sussex Downs College Runner Up: Newhaven Young People's Forum – Keepin’ It Real Project Winner: Young Pioneers: STEM Youth Ambassador Project Senior Volunteer (Secondary school age) Sponsored by Sussex Police Runners Up: Josh Henry from Seaford Musical Theatre Juniors and Miranda Hayles from GIZMO Friday Evening Youth Club Winner: Evie Rowe: Heathfield Panthers Netball Club Adult Volunteer (18 and above) Sponsored by Plummer Parsons Runners Up: Marilyn Nolan and Sam Jones from Seaford Musical Theatre Juniors Winner: Geoff Martindale from Special Olympics Eastbourne The SPARK Award (Sponsored by SPARK) Winner: Seaford Musical Theatre Juniors