Young people, staff and volunteers from YMCAs across England and Wales were honoured for their achievements over the past year at the charity’s Youth Matters awards ceremony (Friday 4 November).
Awards were up for grabs across 11 different categories as the annual ceremony came to life at 8 Northumberland Avenue in central London. Almost 270 guests and nominees attended to cheer on finalists from as far afield as Swansea, Exeter, Newcastle and Norfolk.
The event, hosted this year by television presenter June Sarpong MBE, celebrated the outstanding skills and achievements of young people from across the country and recognised the vital work YMCAs deliver to help transform the lives of young people and give them a brighter future.
Following a rigorous nomination and voting process over the summer, winners were finally announced on the night as:
- Tatiana Draper, from YMCA Exeter: Young Achiever of the Year
- Sokol Hoxha, Leicester YMCA and Y Care International: Young Volunteer of the Year
- Carlie Torlop, YMCA Swansea: Young Worker of the Year
- Emily Kemp, YMCA DownsLink Group: Young Leader of the Year
- Maidstone YMCA: YMCA of the Year
- The Empty Homes scheme, YMCA DownsLink Group: Accommodation Project of the Year
- First for Mums, YMCA North Staffordshire: Family Work Project of the Year
- SOS Bus, Southend YMCA: Health and Wellbeing Project of the Year
- Positive Placements, YMCA DownsLink Group: Training and Education Project of the Year
- Liam Greenaway-Reid, YMCA Thames Gateway: We Believe award
- Ronald Johnson, YMCA White Rose: Red Triangle award
Denise Hatton, Chief Executive of YMCA England, helped to open the event and said:
“Youth Matters is about honouring every single YMCA, young person, service user, staff member and volunteer who has contributed to YMCA’s efforts to create better communities for young people and families.
“Well done to the winners who were on stage tonight and all the finalists and semi-finalists who made it so far in the competition.
“Awards like this are an important way of giving back and saying ‘thank you’ with recognition.”
June Sarpong MBE, event host, said:
“I’ve heard so many amazing stories from young people who have fought adversity and became role models for their peers.
“It’s been such a humbling experience to share the stage with all the inspiring young people and YMCA staff who go above and beyond supporting their local communities.”
Highlights on the awards evening included a performance by YMCA Scarborough’s youth choir and a showcase of YMCA’s talented youngsters from YMCA Suffolk, YMCA Swansea and City YMCA. You can view a selection of photos taken at the Youth Matters Awards ceremony.
Youth Matters has been a central part of YMCA’s calendar since 2009. Nominations opened in June 2016 and a record 136 entries went forward to YMCA judges, before a public vote helped to choose the finalists and winners.
Serving more than 660 communities, YMCA was founded in 1844, making it the largest and oldest charity in the world engaging with young people.
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Notes to editors:
YMCA Youth Matters Awards
The concept of honouring the exceptional work and practice of YMCAs across England was born in 2009, with the event developing into the Youth Matters it is today in 2016.
The categories for this year’s Youth Matters Awards were:
- Young Leader of the Year
- Young Volunteer of the Year
- Young Worker of the Year
- Young Achiever of the Year
- YMCA of the Year
- Best Health and Wellbeing Project
- Best Training and Education Project
- Best Accommodation Project
- Best Family Work
- Red Triangle Award
- We Believe Award
Winners of the Red Triangle and We Believe awards were chosen by judges while winners of all other categories were chosen through a mixture of public vote and judges’ decisions.
YMCA in England and Wales
- Founded in 1844, YMCA in England and Wales is made up of 133 member YMCAs working to ensure that young people have opportunities to thrive and contribute positively to their communities.
- YMCA operates in over 660 different communities in England and Wales impacting upon the lives of more than 600,000 people every year.
- YMCAs provide almost 11,000 beds for young people every night. YMCA is the largest voluntary sector provider of safe, supported accommodation for young men and women.
- YMCA in England and Wales enables nearly 53,000 people every year to engage in education, skills and training to enable them to improve their opportunities in the job market.
- YMCA is the largest voluntary sector provider of health and wellbeing services promoting physical activity.