Exceptional young people, staff, volunteers, projects and YMCAs from across England and Wales have been honoured at the 10th annual Youth Matters Awards.
Hosted by Nihal Arthanayake, radio presenter at BBC 5 Live, the dazzling celebration took place at 8 Northumberland Avenue in Central London on Friday 8 November. Six remarkable young people, five projects, one YMCA and one staff member were officially recognised and awarded.
We are delighted to announce the winners as:
Young Achiever of the Year, sponsored by Charity Bank – Jessica Whelan, YMCA Cardiff
Young Leader of the Year, sponsored by John Facer – Charlie Smith, YMCA Norfolk
Young Volunteer of the Year – Grace O’Donovan, YMCA North Staffordshire
Young Worker of the Year – Ella Sowton, YMCA East Surrey
Young Campaigner of the Year – Adele Tondu, YMCA Thames Gateway
YMCA of the Year, sponsored by Protecture – YMCA North Staffordshire
Diversity Award – Unaccompanied Asylum-seeking children, YMCA Guildford Foyer, YMCA DownsLink Group
Accommodation Project of the Year – Sir James Knott House, YMCA North Tyneside
Family Work Project of the Year – The Holly Project, YMCA Wellington & District
Health & Wellbeing Project of the Year – Heads Together, YMCA East Surrey
raining & Education Project of the Year, sponsored by Bates Wells – Discovery College, YMCA Plymouth
Red Triangle Award – Lenny Allan, YMCA Black Country Group
We Believe Award, sponsored by Sir Alan Rudge – Safiyyah Patel, YMCA St Paul’s Group
The stage was set alight by James Thomson, star of the BBC show ‘All Together Now,’ in two astounding performances.
Huge congratulations to all our award winners and nominees and a big thank you to everyone who contributed to make this year’s Youth Matters Awards an evening to remember!