The Young Achievers Awards are split into four categories: arts, environment, sport and community. In each category there are two winners: one aged 16-19 and one aged 20-25. The winners of the 2008 Young Achievers Awards were:
Sport Category (16-19)
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Gareth set up a junior football project in his local sports centre for ‘at risk kids’ from his deprived estate in Sheffield. He encourages the young people to help him raise money for equipment and to cover the cost of hiring the sports hall as well as arranging tournaments against local schools and youth groups.
Find out more about Gareth.
Sport Category (20-25)
Rikki Colegate – 21
Rikki left school without qualifications and was not in education or training. For the last year Rikki has run weekly sessions that not only teach the young people football tricks and give them a focus - but also re-engage young people who might otherwise be at risk of offending behaviour.
Find out more about Rikki.
Community Category (16-19)
Nathan dropped out of school after sever bullying left him emotionally scarred. Determined not to let this overcome him he set up an anti-bullying project through which he ran artistic competitions to promote the problem of bullying. Nathan has taken these entries and uses them to go into local schools with other volunteers to talk to pupils in assemblies about the impact of bullying.
Find out more about Nathan.
Community Category (20-25)
Dean Kamanzi – 22
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Dean became involved in the Crisis youth volunteering programme as a young homeless person at a Crisis shelter. Dean dedicated over 10 hours a week for 3 months to organise a music event for homeless artists. He took on a leadership role working with the other team members to ensure that everyone was able to contribute to the project in some way.
Read more about Dean.
Environment Category (16-19)
Nick has ADHD and left school with no qualifications. Nick became involved in the BTCV conservation centre in Leeds and started volunteering every week. He has now developed a passion for gardening and horticulture, even completing an NVQ level 1. Nick’s enthusiasm and work ethic make him a role model which other volunteers look up to and which has helped the project turn round ‘challenging’ young people.
Read more about Nick.
Environment Category (20-25)
Emma Fulwood – 22
Emma has supported a National Trust initiative in local schools working with 140 children to explore the concept of ecological footprints and sustainability. She worked with the children, planning sessions and designing graphics to visually show them he differences they had made to the environment.
Read more about Emma.
Arts Category (16-19)
Pip Goodwin – 17
Pip joined Collective Encounters, a professional arts organisation in Liverpool, as an alternative to formal education. Pip left school at 15 following severe bullying after the announcement of her pregnancy. She now chairs and coordinates the young peoples steering groups. She is a strong advocate for the youth theatre and is highly proactive in encouraging her peers to become involved in the theatre.
Read more about Pip.
Arts Category (20-25)
Ryan has been instrumental in setting up and running dance competitions in his local area. These included “battle of the bounce” which aimed to unite individuals through dance. By running workshops in local schools he targeted areas such as self respect, leadership and communication. His other project Da Urban Leap introduced disadvantaged young people to the art of dance, building the confidence of all the people involved. Read more about Ryan.
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