HE MAY only be 12 years old but schoolboy Ollie Freer is already gaining quite a reputation for his baking skills.

The Outwood Shafton pupil has enjoyed getting involved in the kitchen since he was a toddler and in the last year he has turned his passion for baking into a business venture.

His Mum Fay said: “Ollie has always enjoyed baking and seems to have a natural ability with it. I look back at pictures and from around age three he has always loved it, spending time with family who are great bakers including his grandparents and his Dad’s cousin Anna.”

Ollie started his venture last January when he was asked to bake for a local pop-up cafe at Darkside Developments in Grimethorpe.

“As his bakes grew more in demand he made an instagram page called ‘Freers—fancies’,” said Fay.

“Ollie now takes orders and has received some lovely feedback where people can’t believe he is only 12 as his food tastes as good as, if not better, than in cafes.

“It mainly friends and neighbours who buy from him and he has done brownie stacks and things for friends’ birthdays. He loves trying recipes he sees and then works on them till he feels they are good enough to sell - he’s a real perfectionist.

“He also loves doing different flavour cookies and he does more during school holidays and on special occasions like Mother’s Day.”

Ollie uses his own money to buy ingredients and then saves the receipts to work out his costs and profit.

“I have noticed that he is even more focused to bake when he’s set his mind to wanting a new part for his bike or even a new pair of football boots.

“I suppose it’s a good way of teaching him that hard work pays off rather than him just having everything bought for him.

“He’s really enjoying it and would like to continue doing it so we’ll see where it takes him.”

Ollie has been nominated in the Entrepreneur category.

Two other Outwood Shafton pupils have also been nominated for this year’s Young Champions awards.

Kickboxer Guyvin Dawkins, 16, was nominated in the Young Sportsperson category for his dedication and achievements.

The teenager has been at the Combat Academy in Barugh Green since the age of four and trains five days a week to achieve his goals.

In October 2023 Guyvin achieved his 2nd Dan black belt and is now working towards his 3rd Dan blackbelt which will be achievable in 2026.

He’s won numerous titles, has represented his country and has been chosen to attend the ISKA world amateur championships in Australia in October.

His Mum Zoe said: “On the lead up to title fights and the world championships Guyvin trains for 15 hours per week for around three months before the fights which include time in the gym, fitness work and six-mile runs to keep him fit, focused and fight ready with his coaches along with clean eating. This isn’t easy with him being Type 1 Diabetic and in full-time education but he manages it and stays focused.

“He also helps others prepare for grading by working 1-1 with them along with volunteering and helping out on grading days at his gym. He also volunteers at the fundraising White Collar Boxing events by being part of the coaching team.”

Young karting prodigy Josh Whittaker has also been nominated in the Sportsperson Category having overcome health challenges to excel in the sport he loves.

Josh started karting in January 2023 and has made rapid progress.

The 2024 season saw Josh, 14, qualify to compete in the National Outdoor League of Global Karting League in the junior light category and he finished the season seventh in the league.

This year sees him competing in Northwest Karting Championship (indoor), Club100 (outdoor) and he will also become part of the Pantano UK racing team where he will compete against other UK and European drivers in his own kart.

Mum Niky Brazier said: “Josh was diagnosed with Autism and Hyperlexia when he was five years old, he wants to push the boundaries and show that a disability doesn’t mean you can’t chase and fulfil your dreams. He is a strong advocate for not letting his autism hold him back and wants to make it to being a F1 driver in the future.

“Josh was once asked why he loved karting so much and his response was, ‘it’s a feeling that cannot be described but I am sportsman-like and have passion for racing like nothing else I can think of’.

“None of the above would be possible without Josh’s Sponsor MAM Roofing Ltd who has supported him for the last two seasons including buying Josh a kart to compete in this year.”