Meet the new generation of Diana Award Holders
This year’s Diana Award recipients represent some of the most inspirational young people from across the UK and around the world. These exceptional young people have demonstrated their ability to inspire and mobilise new generations to serve their communities and create long-lasting change on a global scale.
Dakshena is one of the youngest qualified English Teachers in the world, passing the Spoken English Teacher Diploma, affiliated with the Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama-U.K, aged 13. After gaining teacher status she started volunteering at her own school, using technology to support learners needs. Despite experiencing challenges in this role, including discrimination for her age, her students went on to pass advanced english examinations. In addition to her teaching role, Dakshena also educates her peers and community on the subject of equality in education, believing that all children have the right to an excellent education.
During a December 2016 visit to New Delhi, India, Ashley, Arpit and Nan were overwhelmed by the devastating poverty they witnessed. Upon returning home and determined to make a difference, they started Project AID: Assistance in Delhi, a non-profit providing medical treatment for impoverished mothers and children at Safdarjung Hospital (a government hospital), Jeewan Hospital (a private hospital), and a school for disabled children. Surpassing their initial fundraising goal, these three high school students raised $11,300. Project AID continue their quest to provide lifesaving medicines and surgeries to hundreds of Delhi’s children.
Louise is a shining example of an individual who believes life is a shared experience where everyone should do their best to make it as good as possible for all. Despite her daily life being punctuated by her caring responsibilities for her younger sister with autism, Louise has taken on additional volunteering roles including running dementia awareness sessions in primary schools, volunteering at a Cancer Research Charity Shop and supporting other young carers through her role as an ambassador with Carer’s Link. She does all this whilst studying child development at college, a course she chose to build her skills and knowledge in support of her sister. Described as giving 100 percent to everything she does, she is an inspirational role model to all those who meet her.
Aswathi has been a pro-active member of her community and has worked towards various causes helping to raise awareness of important issues. Her inspirational work includes environmental activities such as clean up and collection drives, actively volunteering with various charities and working with differently abled individuals as part of the ‘Best Buddies Programme’. Due to her fundraising efforts, Aswathi was able to contribute to the building of a school in Africa. She also initiated English and IT classes for support staff and teaches on a weekend and during any breaks between classes.
Grace volunteers every week at Rainbows, always arriving with a positive attitude and ready to give an incredible experience for all children in her care. She takes time to plan activities, going the extra mile to support further opportunities such as day trips and moving up ceremonies. Grace provides additional support by organising activities in advance, effectively leading and looking after the young children, providing leaders with time to focus on tasks that require attention. Without the support of Grace, full sessions may not run and the number of girls who could attend would be limited.
The Anti-Bullying Ambassador Team from Asimenia Featham Schools of English in Crete were the first group of this kind to be launched in Greece, and have since won numerous awards. Through their hard work, perseverance and positive outlook, they are helping to combat the issue of bullying, not only within their schools, but in their community. To list just a few of their achievements, since 2014, the team have collected ten tons of goods, accompanied with 2,400 cards with an anti-bullying message for their local food banks, raised thousands of pounds for charity and helped refugee children by collecting toys and books.
Described as advocates of generosity, compassion and empathy, the AntiBullying Mentors ensure that Staindrop is a safe and happy environment where all young people can prosper and learn. Dedicating an average of 150 hours each, they deliver after school workshops, support those transitioning from primary schools and run the Inclusion Learning Centre for victims of bullying. In addition to their work supporting their peers and championing an anti-bullying culture, they are also avid fundraisers, raising money to assist victims of bullying. Their efforts have not only earned them respect within the school community but are also recognised by Ofsted who credit the work of the mentors in creating a safe environment.
The Farnham Heath End Well-Being Ambassadors have worked tirelessly alongside their own school commitments to secure funding to make and provide ‘boxes of sunshine’ to support students who are experiencing stress or worry. They are also producing an accompanying short film for students at the school about stress and its impact. They have successfully promoted the topic of wellbeing through assemblies and are encouraging a culture of wellbeing by planning tutor time activities. The group promote being active through a teacher and student sports tournament during a ‘feel good week’ and they have linked with a local primary school to support their school garden.
Sara is on a mission to impact 10,000 lives by 2020. Through her initiative ‘Empowering through Art’, Sara teaches domestic workers and young girls creative skills such as jewellery making and embroidery to enable them to earn extra money and improve their status. She has travelled to Bangkok where she took young girls from a local orphanage through her art and craft programme. Sara also mentors through her school’s ‘Best Buddies Club’ where she helps her buddy through their educational and emotional needs. She is committed to transforming lives across the UAE and around the world.
After Samuel became injured in the middle of a rugby match at nine years old, he was left with a spinal cord injury. Determined to use his personal experiences for the better, Samuel became a youth advisor, influencing and shaping services for other young people like him. After his successful rehabilitation, Samuel became a young wheelchair skills trainer, supporting other young people to develop and improve their skills using their wheelchair. Sam continues to transform his community and believes that after a spinal cord injury you can still do anything you want to do. He is now working to help build that same confidence in others.
Inspired by her late Grandma whose favourite flower was the poppy, and who told her that that it represented all the fallen heroes and servicemen, Leigh-Taylor has been raising funds for the Royal British Legion since the age of just five. She has produced her own poppies, baked cakes and rallied the whole school community to get involved. Most recently she has started producing poppy keyrings that show the name, rank and service of those people wish to remember, and which are now available to buy across the UK.
Mitchell began to change his school for the better in Year 8 when he decided to create and showcase a video that demonstrated how to prevent cyber-bullying. He then helped to develop a learning programme for local feeder schools and carried out further training with them about how to stay safe online. Now in Year 10, Mitchell has worked tirelessly with the Anti-Bullying Campaign to create a positive impact. He has been instrumental in the school’s changing attitudes, with his abilities to create websites, systems, and videos, in addition to his dedication to helping younger students grow in confidence at their new school.
Arslan is the founder of ‘Readapt’, a not-for-profit which aims to close the technology gap for the disadvantaged and disabled. Through this organisation he co-built a left-handed camera rig with special consideration for the disabled which is the first of its kind. He is now co-building a medical alert system for low income people using 1 percent keyboards, and mentoring a high school student through the project. Outside of the scope of his personal projects and ‘Readapt’, he is an inspirational leader, mentoring dozens of young people personally as President of the Computer Club, Co-President of the Video Club, and Deputy President + VP Marketing of the Business Club.
For the past eight years, Rohin has selflessly dedicated his time volunteering for a diverse range of causes. A star student, visionary environmentalist and passionate philanthropist, he urges everyone, especially youth, to raise awareness and to take actions against the current issues. Rohin has already achieved two National Awards for Academic Distinction, two Guinness World Records and a number of awards for his contribution towards environmental conservation, sustainability and development, yet he still strives to achieve more. Rohin is a strong team leader, driven to make a positive impact and ready to take on any challenge.
14 students from St Mary’s embarked on life-changing journey to South Africa to promote education and leadership to pupils of the Ntolwane Primary School. Having researched and funded the project themselves, the students delivered a series of confidence workshops, sports festivals, and leadership and reading classes to a community that is ravaged by high levels of unemployment and HIV/Aids. Through their amazing work, the students have developed a genuine kind heartedness and emotional intelligence that they will continue to use as they start their lives as young adults.
17 year old Kehkashan is the Youth Ambassador of World Future Council and runs her own organisation, Green Hope Foundation. The foundation comprises of over 1000 members, all children, who work for sustainability and children's rights across several countries. She began her changemaking journey when she was only eight years old, planting a tree on her birthday. Since then, Kehkashan has engaged and empowered thousands of young people, making special efforts on education for sustainable development for Syrian and African refugees, orphans and children in India and Nepal. She is a United Nations Human Rights Champion with a goal to safeguard the future of our planet.
Ben is a remarkable young man who has overcome multiple challenges including experiences of prejudice and discrimination. Despite this, he has gone on to inspire fellow young Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, motivating them to speak out and share their stories. Ben has reached out to community members, politicians and the media, highlighting the devastating impacts of bullying, racism and challenging stereotypes. He is an articulate public speaker, often featuring on national TV, and continually contributes to a wide range of campaigns and awareness raising events to promote greater inclusion and acceptance of Gypsy Roma and Traveller Youth and their lifestyles.
Coleen has selflessly been involved with many volunteering initiatives, encouraging others to become more invested in the community. Having grown her hair for over two years, Coleen donated more than 12 inches to the Little Princess Trust and is also giving her time to a local hospice. With a passion for gaming, Colleen has used this as a platform for social good, organising and running various fundraising campaigns. In school, she is a frequent volunteer and member of many clubs. These all make her an incredible role model alongside being a well-respected and admired member of her community.
Despite having been marginalised and discriminated by the education system, Vasileios managed to turn his dyslexia into a gift. Vasileios is the Head Ambassador and Leader Student of the ‘i love dyslexia’ (ILD) students' workshops. The ‘ILD EFL’ school teaches English as a foreign language to students with dyslexia and special educational needs. Inspiring, facilitating and mentoring his peers, Vasileios has enabled the group not only become excellent users of English as foreign language, but also contributed in initiating campaigns and projects to change perceptions. Vasileios has aslo given presentations, opening up publicly about his dyslexia, fighting for equity in education and raising awareness to eliminate the stigma of dyslexia globally
Eve has dedicated her free time to fundraise and volunteer at Eden Rose Coppice where she has supported over 200 children with severe learning difficulties over the last five years. Eve leads her group of volunteers to help restore the surrounding woodland for the benefit of the local community and wildlife, while providing a safe and fun environment for young people to develop their confidence and a sense of ownership of the natural world. The results of her hard work are evident in the feedback from carers and parents, who cite that the skills and attitudes learned through the programme continue into their home life, testamant to her ability to bring out the best in each child.
Eilidh has volunteered at Guides every week for three years, taking a lead role in organising and delivering activities, which are both engaging and challenging. She is described as a positive role model to the girls in her group, resulting in many of them seeking her advice, guidance and insight. Eilidh also helps the Guides earn their badges, working closely with those who struggle to ensure they have the tools they need to succeed. She is extremely motivational and ensures the young girls strive to achieve their full potential. Eilidh’s hard work has led her to be asked to be an official young leader with a view to taking over the lead role in the future.
Paris is an outgoing and caring young person who has shown great compassion and maturity in her current placement, despite a difficult entrance into care. Paris’s welcoming nature has provided her foster siblings with the support they need to feel settled in their new home. She understand how scary and lonely it can feel, having overcome many placement breakdowns throughout her childhood, but continues to support others as a mentor figure. She is a natural leader, baking and cooking for her foster family, greatly reducing stress. Paris has remained warm and optimistic and demonstrates extreme resilience in spite of the challenges that have impacted on her life.
McAuley Buddies are peer mentoring and anti-bullying volunteers at McAuley Catholic High School. They generously give up their time to support their peers within school. Buddies act as friends who listen and understand different points of view, often overcoming their own personal difficulties to help others. They motivate students to achieve their best and overcome problems. Their support enables young people to cultivate selfesteem and confidence by encouraging them to think positively and make their own decisions. McAuley Buddies’ dedication and generosity make them excellent ambassadors for the school and they are an inspiration to all in their community.
Joseph is a passionate human rights campaigner, with a strong belief that everyone, no matter their background, is entitled to fair treatment. He is currently lobbying Washington State to create legislation relating to media biases. Joseph is tireless in fighting for equality, from his social action work on the District School Board to his LGBT campaigning, he is already making waves in his community. To quote Joseph, “Every person is entitled to be free and to live their lives no matter any differences they might have. To treat those people differently is wrong and immoral”.
Lucy passionately believes everyone should have the right to be themselves and the confidence to stand proud. Lucy is one of the UK’s six Neon Ambassadors and through her work she has encouraged and supported young people in her community who lacked confidence or have been through difficult experiences. This inspired Lucy to create the fashion show event ‘Stand Out and Shine’, encouraging self-confidence, individuality and inclusiveness. Her calm and confident nature has made an incredible difference to the young people involved, promoting awareness and raising money. Lucy has also developed personally in this journey and recently spoke in front of 10,000 people at WE Day UK.
Benjamin is described as encapsulating the Sea Cadet core values, in particular ‘respect for others’ and ‘loyalty’. He has a strong moral compass that does not accept the exclusion of others and has been instrumental in recruiting new cadets who have suffered from bullying, ensuring that they feel at ease and fit in with the wider social group. At just 13 years old, he is already showing the pastoral skills worthy of a good leader and his positive influence only stands to grow.
The Lowry group consist of two brave young carers from Salford. Over a two year period they collaborated with theatre professionals to create a verbatim play called ‘Who Cares’, about their lives and the experience of young carers. This toured to 26 youth settings to raise the awareness of other young people and professionals, while challenging stereotypes. At each performance at least one young carer was identified and signposted to support. ‘Who Cares’ was presented to MP’s and decision makers at The House of Lords, giving young carers a voice to fuel a drive for change in policy. It has since been announced that a national political campaign will launch this year.
Emma has tirelessly supported other young people to develop in confidence, motivation, and self-worth at her netball club. She is determined to give more than is required of her and dedicates three evening per week, despite school commitments, to ongoing support for the young people in her team. Emma works to break social down barriers, encouraging the social engagement of young people from different backgrounds in order for them to reach their full potential. She works to encourage other young people to engage in volunteering to develop not only in their own confidence, but that of the other young people they come in contact with.
Siena is a passionate advocate and activist for improving the lives of young people with autism and learning disabilities, having been bullied throughout her childhood. At the age of 13, Siena created a website and Twitter page to mentor and support young people with autism and learning disabilities. She conducts autism research for UCL’s Centre for Autism Research and Education, advises UCL’s Student Disability Services on improving their service and is a student representative of 2eMPower. Siena also works as a peer outreach worker for the Mayor of London to raise awareness of autism and has sat on four youth panels for the Children’s Rights Inquiry during Parliament Week 2017.
Aged just 10, Georgie joined the BulliesOut Youth Ambassador programme full of ideas and enthusiasm. Having experienced bullying herself Georgie wanted to make a difference in her community and make the world a better place. In just two years, she has achieved two accredited awards and is working towards her third. Beyond this, Georgie has taken part in and organised events to raise awareness of the charity and bullying, as well as to raise funds to further support the charity. Georgie has completed an iFly and ran in Manchester the day after the dreadful terrorist act in the city. Georgie's creative and enthusiastic personality shines through in all that she does.
The Egypt Centre Young Volunteers are made up of an inspirational group of young people, aged 10–17 who help deliver many services in the museum. They greet and guide visitors, demonstrate public activities such as mummification, object handling, and the ancient board game Senet. They help bring ancient Egypt alive for all visitors and are credited with helping widen participation through their own diversity and delivery styles. The programme is truly youth lead with the young people taking over the museum every Saturday, with adults there in a purely supervisory role.
Shania selflessly gives her time to support and inspire young people in her community to create sustainable change through unity. Shania began promoting positive changes for young people in her ‘Girl Guide’ group and quickly become an advocate for youth empowerment in her wider community. Through support work, youth led projects, tackling bullying and championing ‘Girl Power’ on the Girl Guides’ Advisory Panel, Shania has helped countless girls believe in themselves and achieve their goals. Shania continues go above and beyond to demonstrate the importance of social action and inspires many young women to do the same.
The Caring Crusaders are committed to tackling bullying and making their school a safer and happier environment, playing a huge role in reducing bullying and increasing attendance in their school. Together they have run school assemblies, speaking passionately about their mission, explaining the signs of bullying and how they can help students to stay safe. The Caring Crusaders have also created a termly magazine and posters to inform their school about upcoming activities, promoting anti-bullying awareness to over 220 students and staff. Identified by their blue hats they are always available in breaktimes, offering support to those who need it.
Amy has been a valuable volunteer of Achieve More Scotland for eight years, dedicating her time to the young people of Glasgow. She has been involved in numerous projects as a coach and volunteer, generously delivering services all over Glasgow to the most deprived communities. These campaigns and projects include raising awareness of gender based violence, discrimination and social deprivation. Amy has demonstrated commitment and passion, utilising her encouraging nature to work with the hardest to reach young people. Her determination to challenge herself and step out of her comfort zone, even in times of self-doubt, is inspiring to everyone around her.
Amy’s personal battles with bullying and mental illness have inspired her to help other young people around the world. She has dedicated her time and energy to many charities and campaigns through raising money and sharing her story to inspire other young people to speak up about mental health and break the stigma. Amy now works within her community mentoring younger students in her school and creating a system to ensure victims of bullying feel safe and supported. Her passion and positivity empowers other young people to grow and allows their voices to be heard.
At just 15 years old, Amal co-founded the initiative MESH ZAMBIA (Make Empowered Self Help groups), training women to be self-sufficient by generating sustainable incomes. His inspiration began in 2015 as the Zambian economy faced inflation, leading to unemployment. Amal wanted his community to thrive and so created MESH to empower women to become sustainable, earning members of their community. So far, under the MESH program, 40 women have been trained in tailoring, baking and other activities, based on their interests. They now make a sustainable income, supporting their families, growing in confidence, acting as role models and improving their living standards.
At just 13, Ezara-Mai is already creating a legacy for children, young people and their families from across the world who are experiencing genetic illness, like her. Through her work with the GOSH Youth Forum she has worked with geneticists, media companies and the NHS to raise awareness about how rare illnesses like hers are created and can be treated. In addition to her campaigning efforts, Ezara-Mai has also raised over £11,000 for GOSH through story writing competitions, garden parties and dance events, setting herself a target of £100,000 by 2025. Described as a ‘power house of a young lady’ everyone is proud to be part of ‘Team Ezara’ and her mission to improve the lives of others.
The I Love Dyslexia students have been transformed into Agents of Change, gently shaking the world with the #SOS4LoveProject. Initiating actions on all UN 17-Goals-of-Sustainable-Development, they fight for equality, global citizenship education and refugees rights and hunger and in doing so inspire edu-leaders, 22,000 students from 945 schools in 58 countries. With dyslexia and other learning, social and emotional differences, each member of the group has broken down prejudices and stereotypes by embracing their uniqueness and transforming it into an asset.
Described as an exceptional role model, Rowan is a passionate and committed Anti-Bullying Ambassador. He is constantly thinking of new ways to develop the campaign and ensure the playground is a safe place for all pupils within his school. He has organised many events within the school, including a Mufti Day during anti-bullying week titled ‘all different, all equal’ which involved students dressing half in their uniform and half in their own clothes to help celebrate the similarities and differences we all have. He is also a passionate fundraiser, organising school discos, bake off competitions and Christmas fairs to raise money for Children In Need and Children with Cancer.
The Friendly Faces are passionate about providing peer support in their school – their aim is to make sure that all students have someone they can talk to if they need advice. They also promote anti-bullying and positive messages through a variety of events such as a Friendly Faces roadshow, visiting Year 6s to help with their transition to secondary school, a Year 7 Anti-Bullying Day and discos throughout the year to name a few. They show incredible empathy and resilience in order to provide support to students and staff and are role models within their school, especially for the youngest pupils.
As a writer and storyteller, Thia has successfully encouraged people to read and write about their passions as a form of spreading happiness. As the editor of her school magazine, Thia leads her peers in creating, designing, and publishing the magazine. She is an outstanding role model to everyone around her, tirelessly campaigning for causes close to her heart including education, Tobacco Control to prevent young people from smoking, and gender equality. Thia's involvement in Plan International Indonesia also gives her the chance to voice her insights and make a difference within her community as well as on a national scale.
Leys Farm Buddies are a huge asset to the school. They have raised awareness of cyber safety, promoted anti-bullying and in November 2017 they were highly praised by an Ofsted HMI inspector for the impact they’ve had in school. During Anti-Bullying Week they raised enough money to buy every child in school an anti-bullying wristband. Throughout the year they have attended 'staying safe' and anti-bullying meetings organised by the local authority. The buddies ensure the school is a safe place: in the corridors, in the playground and in the classrooms.
At the age of just 10 Darquise founded the programme, ‘Helping is Caring’ raising over $45,000 for causes close to her heart. She has put on musical performances, organised a show at a daycare centre to ensure every child celebrates Christmas, handed out over 250 soccer balls to an orphanage in Jamaica, and raised over $17,000 to fund treatment for a young girl called Alexie. In 2015 she also started a campaign to help the homeless in her community, approaching companies for donations and collecting warm clothing to hand out. Her ability to bring communities together is truly inspirational and her devotion to others makes anything seem possible.
When Vansh discovered how expensive glasses cost in Kenya, he started ‘Sight for Kids’ in partnership with Al Jaber Optical in the UAE, The Lions Club and Sabatia Eye Hospital in Kenya. The aim of the project is to provide free eye care education and treatment to underprivileged children in Kenya, and raise awareness about eye health amongst parents. Vansh persuaded corporates to sponsor the project, and to date they have examined 63,000 children and provided 500 with free spectacles tailor-made to their prescription. Vansh has shown great passion and determination to fulfil the aims of the project, advocating the importance of eyesight to achieving a good education.
Passionate about sport inclusivity, Eban is an instrumental ambassador for creating opportunities in his school and wider community. Eban’s vision and commitment has seen him drive a committee of hardworking volunteers, who have now established two junior football teams where there were previously none. Eban leads several sport and fitness clubs in his community, inspiring people of all ages and backgrounds regardless of their ability, race or gender. Eban has volunteered hundreds of hours to make this happen and aims to get everyone hooked on sport for life, making sport accessible to all.
The four members of Colin Glen Group are determined to break down barriers and bring communities together through their social action work. This includes park cleans, volunteering with young people who have disabilities and additional needs, facilitating outdoor activities, submitting funding applications for programmes, influencing policy on the rights of the child and creating a youth forum. They have been incredible advocates of youth voice and go above and beyond to support members of their communities.
Aryan is an environmentalist who promotes the importance of trees and encourages the community to partake in planting more. He has been spreading awareness throughout his neighbourhood about deforestation and drought situations happening around the world and educates on what precautionary measures can be taken to help these issues. He is a student member of Emirates Environment Group which spreads awareness about conservation of resources and recycling through activities and events.
Aifa is a committed volunteer, dedicating hundreds of hours to designing and leading support programmes for vulnerable children with social, mental, emotional and/or physical needs. She is a peer mentor on ‘Kids Together’, bringing together able bodied children with disabled children, and has contributed to an 8 week youth led programme with Never Underestimate Teen Spirit (NUTS) working with disaffected young teens in West Belfast. In her role as an #iwill Youth Ambassador, Aifa actively encourages her peers to volunteer their time and speaks passionately about the need to break down barriers, believing that no child should be excluded or left behind in her pursuit of social inclusion for all.
Elliott has been a member of Sea Cadets for over three years, consistently going above and beyond what is expected of him. Elliott is both a role model and dedicated teacher to his fellow cadets, eager to pass on his knowledge. His passion in the unit is navigation, providing his cadets with the skills and tools needed to flourish. He prepares his lessons at home in his own time in between his college studies, inspiring others with his enthusiasm. Despite being diagnosed with dyslexia and severe Irlens Syndrome, Elliott never lets anything get him down and one day hopes to join the Merchant Navy.
Mehul firmly believes in creating a world where people can openly discuss mental health in a supportive environment with access to resources that help them succeed. Therefore Mehul began ‘RANA Youth’, an organisation committed to bringing attention to mental health issues and raising money to fund mental health research. Mehul champions inclusivity by encouraging others to speak out about their issues and regularly organises hospital visits to those suffering from mental health issues. Mehul has touched the lives of so many, and one beneficiary states that his kind character and honesty has been crucial to their recovery.
Since the age of five, Paavani has dedicated her life to educating underprivileged children, caring for the elderly and most recently raising awareness about female foeticide, with the slogan, ‘save the girl, save the world’. Speaking at schools, rotary clubs, universities and in the media, her efforts are credited with bringing about a change in the mindset of many people, including a family who now take pride in having a daughter. In addition to her campaigning, she also volunteers at the NGO The Earth Saviours Foundation Old Age Home helping abandoned senior citizens, bringing them happiness and supporting them to open up.
Megan shares her own personal experiences to help other young people come to terms with the death or separation of their own parents. Megan represents her peers as their chosen Youth Champion and meets with the Mayor and senior policy makers to discuss the work of Kinship Care and its impact on service users. She organised an event to raise awareness for the charity, in which she planted a tree to symbolise resilience alongside 13 other volunteers. Megan has demonstrated her own resilience, overcoming any limitations her rare eye condition has brought her way. Megan’s caring and supportive nature doesn’t end with her volunteering; she is also a young carer for her Grandma.
The Surrey Heath Youth Council are a dedicated group of outstanding young people ranging from 11 to 18 years old. They actively campaign to reduce mental health stigmas in schools and enable students to discuss and explore mental health in a safe environment. The Surrey Heath Youth Council have organised and created an anti-stigma conference which has increased awareness of the importance of all young people’s emotional and mental health in their local community and has inspired and helped multiple young people. The Surrey Heath Youth Council strive to be the voice of young people in Surrey Heath and improve the area for everyone.
For the past two years, Ally has worked tirelessly to support the U14 Football Team at Banchory Academy. His hard work, dedication and commitment to the team inspires pupils to be the very best versions of themselves. Ally meticulously arranges fixtures, games, events and kits, demonstrating constant dedication to the team, both on and off the pitch. He successfully gained sponsorship from two local organisations and, as a result, secured over £1,000 of funding for new football kits. Ally’s infectious positive attitude and impressive leadership skills ensure his team respect, value and trust him wholeheartedly.
Angel has unlimited energy and passion for improving mental health awareness. She has completed over three hundred hours of volunteering and leads on communication for Hendon School’s mental health campaign ‘SOS Stamp Out Stigma’. This includes conducting research, organising a conference with over 40 speakers and 350 delegates and negotiating funding from Barnet Council for Mental Health First Aid training for all schools. Angel also acted as the recruitment lead and produced the design brief for the school’s mental health app ‘SpeakOut! Barnet!’ She is an inspirational role model to other students who has made a real difference to the community.
The Woodside High School group have proactively led the peer mentoring provision at their school, volunteering their time to support students to transition into mainstream school, as well as offering advice to those being bullied. They have spoken out about issues such as mental health, racism, Islamophobia and the need to challenge prejudice in all forms. They have also been spokespeople in the local community, challenging issues such as gang involvement and knife crime, which are prevalent issues in their local area. This group have led key events across the community to raise awareness and ensure that all young people are supported to make the right choices.
Katrina’s work with VISION has helped to provide sight to people from impoverished backgrounds across the world. She has donated hundreds of pairs of recycled eyeglasses and raised money to provide cataract surgeries in Ghana and India. Katrina is committed to helping people of diverse backgrounds to access optical care and see the world. Her leadership has inspired others to join in the fight for sight; Katrina now leads a team of 30 students in her school. Through this club, she has expanded VISION’s work by providing her classmates with service opportunities, and teaching them about global health disparities.
Freddie joined St John Ambulance eight years ago with an interest in a medical career. Since then he has taken every opportunity to advance his first aid knowledge, including qualifying as an advanced first aider. In addition to the hours put in weekly for his own training, Freddie has provided hundreds of hours of public service attending events where this knowledge has been put into practice through administering first aid to those who have needed it. Through community fundraising, Freddie raised enough funds for the provision of a public access defibrillator and first aid training equipment, also providing training in its use.
Over the last two years Yang has volunteered his talents in music, maths and science to support his local community. As a volunteer for FiSH, a charity which combats loneliness in older people, Yang performs trombone at lunchtime concerts. Other volunteers have reported how moving it is to see when a particular passage from Yang’s music brings smiles and laughter from a normally reticent audience, saying ‘these are precious moments showing music bridge the generation gap.’ Yang’s quiet dedication to the welfare of others is inspiring to his peers, teachers and community alike.
Inspired by his sister, Benjamin has raised over £10,000 for ‘Amy and Friends’ an organisation which supports those living with Cockayne Syndrome. He has climbled up Snowdon, completed multiple 15 mile walks and his latest challenge saw him cycle 500 miles from London to Glasgow. Benjamin volunteers at weekly sibling clubs and leads on the planning and delivery of sport sessions to his peers. His dedication is the ultimate legacy to his sister, for whom he is a young carer, and the many children he loves and has lost to Cockayne Syndrome and related disorders, and their siblings.
Daniel is determined to change attitudes and be a positive cultural role model, after experiencing first-hand the negative attitudes and abuse directed towards the Roma, Gypsy and Trvaelling Community. In his role on the student council, Daniel ensures that all student voices are heard. He has played a particularly important part in ensuring that students with limited English have thrived and adjusted to life in a British school. Daniel also volunteers at a local youth club, delivering language lessons, cooking traditional food, playing Romaninan games and showcasing Roma culture. When asked what a society should be, Daniel said a ‘place where people are free to be who they are’.
Jennifer is a Lead Youth Fundraiser for New Hope North East, working to help disabled children and bring families together. As a young carer for her brother, who has Autism, Jennifer was inspired to make difference to the lives of other children. Jennifer has shown refined leadership skills through the planning and designing of her own fundraising activities for events, such as cake and craft sales. Jennifer also leads a young carers subgroup, ‘Caring with Confidence’. Jennifer plans to dedicate time to promoting their work on social media and to continue talking about her role and her passion in her community. Her dream is to see all children around the world happy, loved, cared for and achieving their dreams.
The Rotary Interact Club dedicate their time and energy to raising money and awareness for local, national and international charities which have included supporting the End Polio Now campaign and sponsoring a young Kenyan boy with his education. They are enthusiastic and knowledgeable ambassadors inspiring other young people at their school to engage in charitable initiatives and in the last year they raised an incredible £3,000. They are a group of self-driven young individuals who through their own motivation, make all the necessary arrangements for their activities and show enormous amounts of creativity and energy to help those less fortunate than themselves.
The BWA Interact Club is run by students who all feel passionately about helping to improve the quality of life of those living in their community. For two years they have been serving lunch to the elderly and have been involved in a variety of voluntary activities, always with a smile on their faces. To further improve their community, the group have fundraised £1,000 contributing to a defibrillator and external cabinet. The BWA Interact Club have inspired other young people to get involved and to help those less fortunate by delivering school assemblies and acting as role models.
Husayn has dedicated over 600 hours to founding the first Model United Nations simulation in Kitchener- Waterloo. The project gave secondary school students, regardless of their financial situation, the opportunity to participate in the scheme, interacting with security, humanitarian, health and environmental crises facing the world today. In addition to this innovative project Husayn has undertaken a further 2000 service hours providing mental health and coping support to high school students across Canada. Husayn also regularly volunteers at St Mary’s General Hospital, providing excellent care and services to their patients at the Day Surgery Discharge Unit.
Ellora has a passion for coding and is the co-founder and Managing Director of her company Envirocache Ltd. She has been a driving force in the development of the Envirocache app where she secured funding to develop the application. In June 2016 Ellora was awarded Apps for Good Fellow of the Year for her continued work developing her app Envirocache and using her experiences to encourage others, especially girls, to try computing and show that being young doesn’t mean you can’t be ambitious. She has demonstrated outstanding commitment to furthering her technical skills, inspiring other young people and creating positive change in the world through technology.
After experiencing the care system, Chelsea has provided support and assistance in giving young people in care a voice within their local community for over a year. Chelsea continues to bring different people in her community together creating unity, aiding in intergenerational coffee mornings, community engagement sessions and community cooking sessions. As an ambassador of The Roots Foundation Wales, Chelsea has made herself a strong figure in her community, demonstrating that young people with experience in care can achieve great outcomes for themselves and others. Everyday Chelsea strives to break down the stigma attached to being a young person in care.
When Shradhdha was seven years old she started to help her community through voluntary and charity work. As a member of ‘Down to Earth’, she has helped the needy, provided water for labourers, assisted with blood donation campaigns, and promoted environmental awareness. She has collected 100kg of used clothes for people in Somalia, raised money for rheumatoid arthritis and various other charities, and participated in events all across Dubai. Recently she was rewarded with the prestigious ‘Sheikh Hamden Award’ which includes prize money of AED 30,000, which she is utilising for the betterment of people who need it.
Sophia formed the non-profit, I Am Not A Statistic, after she travelled to her native country India to explore and learn about her heritage. She was struck by the immense poverty and suffering and vowed to do something about it. Her first goal was to fundraise to provide school supplies for children of migrant workers in Gurgaon, which she accomplished, raising enough to give supplies to 50 children. Her second goal was to open an orphanage for girls living on the streets so they could be safe and educated. In July 2017 she cut the ribbon to a new orphanage in Lakshmi Nagar which provides 25 girls with vital safety and support service after raising $30,000.
Nishkka has thrown herself into a variety of campaigns and initiatives, setting a positive example within her community. She has made sustainable additions to her neighbourhood recycle programs and has utilised her talented ballet skills to perform at fundraising events for breast cancer awareness. Inspired by the 4th United Nations Sustainable Development Goal, she also initiated book collection drives and donated books to underprivileged children around the world. Nishkka’s also volunteers to pack school bags for Syrian refugee children, and played badminton to raise funds for the UAE - Year of Giving. Multi skilled, empathetic and compassionate, Nishkka focuses on the task to ensure the best results.
Ellie-May is on a mission to stop bullying in her school and make people that are unhappy, happy. As an Anti-Bullying Ambassador, she is a reassuring and visable presence in the playground, giving up her lunchtimes so she can help other students with conflict resolution and, when necessary, intervene. Ellie-May has also undergone training so that she can better support children experiencing or displaying concerning behaviour online. She is always the first one to volunteer and has grown in confidence and compassion, leading whole school assemblies and fundraising events, helping to raise money for both Children In Need and Children with Cancer.
Sadhna advocates passionately for the rights of young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), working tirelessly to educate people about the lives of those with SEND. Sadhna has been a shadow teacher for a disabled young person, positively impacting their confidence, communication and academic skills. In recognition of her community service, the Ministry of Education awarded Sandha the Sheikh Hamdan Award for Distinguished Students. Sadhna will be raising awareness of disability by playing the role of a disabled young person in a film nominated for the 2018 International Film Festival of Rotterdam.
The Language Helpers volunteer every lunch hour in their school's Languages Department to help their peers and teachers. Their enthusiasm and energy ensures other students thrive in the school environment, boosting the confidence of their fellow pupils in the process. The group take initiative in improving the department in creative and inventive ways. They mentor younger pupils at school, produce classroom materials to help in lessons, and support pupils with low self-esteem. They are passionate about the education and well-being of others, spreading positive skills and teaching others.
Amy is a role model for younger cadets in her detachment, whether this is through her continued fundraising for various charities, volunteering to lead and support a local Girl Guides group with furthering their skills and knowledge and by supporting her younger brother to be involved in cadets. Through her work with the Girl Guides she has brought her detachment and their organisation closer together and formed lifelong friendships. Amy is highly recognised by many of the adult instructors for being a fantastic role model to her fellow cadets and demonstrating to them that no matter what, you can overcome the challenges and fears you may face.
Sophie is passionate about giving a voice to WWI veterans, highlighting the sacrifices and accomplishments of soldiers. Sophie published a letter, that had been written to her great-grandfather during WWI, in the Ottawa Public Library competition, which was then published in the 2017 Ottawa PotPourri book. In collaboration with her father, Sophie also published a book on the 1917 Battle of Vimy in English and French, detailing the courage of Canadians in World War I, for public libraries and school boards in Canada. Over the past three years Sophie has exercised strong empathy and a sense of duty by volunteering weekly with war veterans suffering from issues including dementia, PTSD and loneliness.
Tegan has volunteered for five years with school netball teams and local netball clubs, coaching young players. Her positive impact on a large number of girls has helped raise self-confidence and self-esteem in young players as their skills improve and they achieve success. Tegan helps her fellow pupils increase fitness levels, overcome negative attitudes and personal weaknesses. Her input is demonstrated through the success of teams during competitions, which has developed a positive self-image in the girls she coaches. The players she has helped report increased confidence as their skills have improved and they experience success in their game.
Amanda is committed to providing peer education in her local area, with a passion for making a difference. She regularly volunteers her time to attend, organise and run peer education events providing peer support on LGBT+ issues, drugs, sexual health and alcohol to name a few. This experience of peer support flows seamlessly into her work within the Army Cadets. Amanda holds the rank of Corporal and is responsible for the welfare of junior cadets and has combined her work in peer education within her role. She has participated extensively in fundraising for local and national charities, most recently with the Poppy Scotland Appeal, helping to raise over £12,000 in local collections.
Sarah works tirelessly to change the lives of young people in Rochdale Borough by continuing to campaign around issues affecting young people. She has successfully fundraised for important causes to her such as Springhill Hospice for end-of-life-care inspiring Neeli Mosque to do the same. She has attended the House of Commons debate where she fought for Mental Health Awareness and Support, reform of GCSE re-sits and transport issues. Sarah is particularly passionate about mental health and has secured funding for two additional Mental Health Support Workers in Rochdale. She also volunteers at Neeli Evening School for 5-14 year olds.
Sainath is on a mission to empower fellow students to raise awareness of environmental issues within their community. Through social action, environmentalism and technology, Sainath has combated the use of single use plastic bags, even inventing a device which can collect waste from floating water surfaces. His campaign work has reached over 1,500 students and over a quarter of them have committed to an online pledge to fight against plastic pollution and to recycle. Achieving all this at age 10, Sainath demonstrates that you’re never too young to become a leader and change the world.
In 2014, Shreya’s grandmother died from cancer. Her last wish was to help vulnerable girls and Shreya promised to fulfil that wish, keeping her grandmother’s memory alive. This major life event became the catalyst for her to found ‘Foundation for Girls’ a not-for-profit, dedicated to empowering at-risk girls and youth by providing them with training, skills and resources to create pathways for economic opportunity, independence and a marked shift in their life-trajectory. The foundation engages youth to help them find their passion, self-confidence, and skills to be self-reliant. Through the foundation, Shreya currently works with the homeless, trafficking survivors, refugees, domestic violence victims, and teen mums.
Inspired by her younger brother who was diagnosed with Autism, Sienna has used her passion for dance and creativity to make children around the globe become Autism Aware. Sienna can be spotted across Crawley shaking buckets, packing bags, handing out balloons, baking cupcakes and has raised thousands of pounds to support local families and siblings living with autism. Her autism anti-bullying video had over 57,000 views world wide and she has written a book for primary school children, teaching them about friends with autism which is being sent to every school in the country. She hopes that the story will change people’s perceptions and encourage children to be kinder to one another.
Having been deeply affected by a presentation on her local Hospice, Emma signed up to be an ambassador. Emma has raised a significant amount of money for the Hospice and established an annual fundraiser at Strathclyde Park. She is a Young Scot 5Rights Youth Commissioner and represents group at public meetings. She has played a part in Scotland becoming a nation that recognises young people's rights online and produced a report for the Scottish Government called ‘Our Digital Rights’. Emma’s ambition is to be an economist in the civil service where she feels she can continue to make a real difference to others.
Inspired her passion for music, Heather joined ‘Cream Tees’, a folk music group made up of young people from the local area. As a bereaved military child, being part of the group has helped her develop her own sense of belonging, something which she is passionate about instilling in other members. Since joining she has emerged as an outstanding role model and leader, mentoring younger members and fundraising thousands of pounds to give the group invaluable opportunities. She is commended with uniting people who may otherwise be socially or geographically isolated, arranging for the group to play at local care homes and organising local community events, including ‘Teesdale’s Got Talent’ and the revival of Maypole dancing in Ovington.
When Cody realised that not every child received gifts at Christmas, he decided to do something about it. Devising a unique fundraising campaign called ‘Cody’s Christmas Box’ he set about raising money and donations to fill an entire boxing ring with toys that could be donated to those less fortunate. His efforts raised a staggering £12,000 worth of toys, befitting over 500 children, and bringing smiles and joy on Christmas Day. In addition to his boxing challenge, Cody has also raised a further £10,000 to buy sixty-four bikes for children by cycling 58km from Edinburgh to Faklirk, and £1000 for the homeless. His determination has inspired many and sparked many important conversations within the community.
The Peer Mediation Team at Glenbrook Primary designed a new process for mediation in the playground that is tailor made for children. They created a mediation board game to help their peers get over their arguments in a fun and interactive way, reducing playground conflicts. This youth led board game revitalised peer mediation and has been especially supportive of visual learners, younger children and those that may feel lonely or struggle at play-time. The group have also been empowered to lead events to raise awareness of bullying through termly training and development, and have worked with staff to ensure children feel even safer at school.
The Mediation Team at Crawford Primary School not only volunteer their own time to support children at lunchtime, but also support the adults in the school to raise awareness of bullying. The Peer Mediators have planned friendship games, a cultural day where children dressed in traditional clothes and took part in a fashion show to celebrate different cultures, an assembly that showed the impact of bullying from a child’s point of view and much more. They have helped over 100 children with conflicts in the playground and children across the school look up to them for their leadership, teamwork, and empathy.
The Peer Mediation Team at Elm Wood Primary School are hardworking and dedicated to resolving conflict in the playground, empowering their peers to feel safe in the 'real world' as well as online. The group have planned events to raise awareness of bullying and promote friendship. Some of the initiatives they led included a whole school assembly and an interactive discussion identifying and dealing with bullying. They also led a forum which discussed cyber-bullying and how to combat it, and introduced peer mediation ‘pop-ins’ where mediators facilitated various anti-bullying and friendship development activities. The group are keen, passionate and pro-active about creating a safe and happy learning environment in their school.
The Peer Mediation Team at Fenstanton School are innovative, hardworking and dedicated to their role in the school community. They are exemplary role models who actively support staff to raise awareness of bullying and have supported many children through their disputes and instances of exclusion. They have planned assemblies, designed posters, held cake sales and are currently developing a newsletter. Since the Peer Mediators have been introduced to the school, there has been a marked improvement in the children's ability to solve problems amongst themselves, conflict resolution and a reduction in behaviour related incidences.
The Peer Mediation Team at Kingswood is a youth led service that provides pupils with the opportunity to discuss problems with peers that they may not want to share with adults. The team are active and innovative; not only did they organise a whole week of activities during Anti-Bullying Week but have also taken responsibility for team meetings and ensure that peers are on shift each day. They also learnt to lead the recruitment and interview process for new child mediators. Staff and children both agree that the peer mediation service has been successful at helping children feel safer in the playground has developed links between the lower and upper schools.
Sunnyhill Peer Mediators are dedicated to improving the lives of their peers and creating a calm and friendly school environment. During their free time the group have set up a pupil led conflict resolution service; over the past five years they have supported over 700 students, seeing a reduction in children being referred for adult intervention. They plan and lead Anti-Bullying Week, with positive and energising assemblies including piano playing and singing; a ‘kindness tree’, raising money for Childline and a Parent and Pupil Guide. The group have also set up an advice box, lead weekly peer-led meetings discussing new ideas, practising behaviour management techniques, public speaking, planning and minutes.
Adhya’s goal is to help individuals who have land, but cannot afford to build homes. Adhya’s househelp‘s story gave her the inspiration and motivation to take the first step towards making a difference. Adhya began working with WeRise, a social enterprise built on the five pillars of Technological Empowerment, Financial Inclusion, Sweat Equity, Sustainability and Communities. Together, they have provided the marginalised populace with the means to build their own homes, bringing health, safety and a sense of well-being to their lives. For Adhya, her efforts are not just brick and mortar, but an opportunity to give back, the amount she has fundraised has supported the building of over 18 homes with more to come in 2018.
After learning of a family friend’s tragic diagnosis of a terminal brain tumour, Jake set about fundraising for the Brain Tumour Research Campaign, taking part in the Great North Swim, a half mile swim in Lake Windermere. Jake raised funds through family, friends, school and his sports clubs and following the event overcame his shyness when pursuing various interviews for radio and newspapers. He continues to inspire those around him as an all-round role model to his peers in a sporting capacity, through his fundraising activities and by motivating others to achieve their potential.
The Peer Mentors have made a considerable difference to lives of the other 200 children at Moore Primary School. They give up their time daily to ensure that the school is a safe, friendly and happy place for all. For AntiBullying Week they organised a range of activities which included delivering an assembly and organising a poster campaign and competition. They worked with every class in the school to rewrite the school’s ‘Anti-Bullying Promise’, which was then agreed to by every child in the school. The Peer Mentors have worked with the NSPCC and the police and support one another as well as helping others.
Winterton Community Academy Peer Mentors have created the ‘Chill’ Programme (Community Help in Life/Learning) working together to improve the self-esteem and motivation of others on different projects within the community. They run a reading programme at their school, helping younger students to improve their literacy skills. The team provide a safe space for students suffering with bullying problems and help Year 7 students transition smoothly into secondary school. In addition, their Generations Online programme enables the older generation to learn how to safely use the internet and become more involved in the digital age.
Aryan is a talented and dedicated young man who cares greatly about young people. Following his motto, ‘service before self’, Aryan donated all his scholarship money to cover the medical costs of orphans, meeting with them to discuss the importance of education. Aryan cares passionately about the environment. He has designed a robotic sensor to help farmers regulate and conserve their water usage. Continuing the robotic theme, Aryan successfully designed Trashbot a device that uses RFID to promote recycling. As part of the ‘Go Green This Summer Campaign’, Aryan’s work resulted in the collection of 1,700kg of recyclables.
Tyana is fighting to create a society that doesn't discriminate. Elected as Young Lord Mayor for the City of London in 2016, she has gone above and beyond, working to be a constant advocate and supporter of young people in the borough. Through her work with the City Gateway Trust she has delivered holiday programmes, run workshops around body image, organised community days and helped raise civic awareness and citizenship skills. Tyana is seen as a pillar of the youth community and has been credited with creating a transformational legacy; reducing discrimination, improving attitudes and building the confidence of young people.
Priya has volunteered almost 500 hours to various causes and programmes, including leading her school’s Charities Committee for the last two years where she organised events such as an annual onesie day and flashmob to raise money for Children in Need and other local charities. In addition to her charity work, Priya is also a Sport Ambassador and Coach, volunteering in classes, mentoring S4 sports leaders and delivering courses, such as Table Offciating. She is also a Glasgow Fever Young Leader, a member of Glasgow Life Young Leaders, a Gold Young Ambassador, the PE Departments ‘go to’ organiser and is described as a truly inspirational role model.
Corey has always dreamed of making a positive impact, despite his humble beginnings. This passion, combined with a love of treats and entrepreneurial spirit, led him to become the owner of Mr. Cory’s Cookies, a successful business selling natural gourmet cookies, at just six years old. He subsequently founded Mr. Cory Cares, aimed at helping his community in a variety of ways, including donating money and cookies to various charities. Cory often speaks publicly, encouraging young people like him to become entrepreneurs to create positive change in their community and spreads the message of positivity and inclusion.
Asheligh has dedicated hundreds of hours to a wide range of causes across Scotland, overcoming her own difficulties to do so. Her local Scout lodge and the groups who visit benefit from her assistance in activities such as archery and water sports, in addition to maintaining the general upkeep of the facilities. Her passion for animals led her to volunteer at a local shelter, working with troubled dogs and even adopting a Staffordshire Bull Terrier into her own home. In addition to this, she also volunteers her time to a local stables, working with a therapy group for autistic children where she is credited with creating a relaxed and calm environment and earning her the 200-hour Saltire Award.
This group of seven influential and passionate young people have been integral in the development and recognition of youth led mental health initiatives in the North East Lincolnshire area. Following a consultation with over 500 young people in their area, the 15-18 year olds created five short films with themes of challenging stereotypes, stigma, bullying and promoting self-help. They negotiated with the local council for young people to be trained as Mental Health First Aiders giving support to their peers and the wider community. They were involved with naming the new CAMHS service for the area and have facilitated a youth voice event bringing Year 12 students together with local decision makers.
Keiran started the social enterprise ‘Rock Clothing’ as a means of generating funds to tackle bulling in Portsmouth and bring young people to the forefront of social change, a cause he himself feels passionate about after experiencing bullying himself. Since forming in 2016, Keiran has facilitated hundreds of anti-bullying training sessions in local schools, given inspirational talks to local groups and arranged the first ever anti-bulling conference in Portsmouth for over 700 students. The impact of his work is described as phenomenal and he is widely recognised across the city as an advocate for young people, their voice and their ability to bring about change.
Vilmarie is a pioneer for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) awareness and Cancer Prevention, conditions that are intimately close to her, since her mother was diagnosed with MS when she was 15 years old and her grandfather and great grandmother died of cancer. Vilmarie’s primary avenues for advocacy and awareness are an education program. Her efforts led to her meeting the Governor of Puerto Rico and discussing with him the importance of tracking MS cases in the country. Through the passing of this Law, a national registry will have an accurate count of Puerto Ricans with MS, which can be applied to the federal funding and resources provided to the island by the government. She has recently taken her campaign even further, meeting with officials in Washington.
James has been an Anti-Bullying Ambassador for over three years. His responsibilities in this role range from spreading the message across the school to solving disputes amongst his classmates. He took on the role as ambassador because he wanted to stop people from getting hurt and now helps organise special events to celebrate peoples’ differences, setting an excellent example of how to respect other students. James has led assemblies and helped to organise ‘Proud to be different day’ in February 2016, raising money for ChildLine. James has inspired many students, and is described as a ‘role model and benchmark for all current and future AntiBullying Ambassadors.
The Townlands Peer Mediators use their lunchtime to enhance the lives of other children on the playground. They work with the younger children making sure they have lots of games to play, ensuring they are both happy and safe. Together they have learnt to work as a team, created new games and songs for the younger children to learn, and instilled a philosophy of respect and good manners at the school. The Peer Mediators wanted to get involved because they had witnessed first hand the positive effect older students who carried out this role before them had on the school playground.
Passionate about helping others, Beth is a District Youth Representative and Peer Educator, volunteering hundreds of hours towards training young people in Fist Aid. She advocates for First Aid training to be part of school curriculums at community meetings and events, ensuring the youth in her district have their voices heard. In addition, Beth trains a large number of young people in First Aid, making the local community a safer place. Through her fundraising and voluntary work, Beth has helped to establish a community where no lives will be lost due to a lack of trained First Aiders.
Cameron and Kiya are a brother/sister team who have raised nearly £10,000 to fund hospital equipment, special sensory equipment and toys for young people at Christmas. Cameron came up with the idea of helping other children after watching his sister Kiya grow up with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Cameron would see other children on the ward where Kiya was treated and realised there is always someone worse off than you. Kiya thought it was a great idea and joined the ‘Price Team’. Their fundraising activities range from curating a show called ‘Christmas Magic’ for children at a local hospice, bucket collecting and approaching local businesses for donations.
At just nine years old, Gwendolyn reached out to the vulnerable youth in Jakarta’s slums after the loss of her younger sister from cancer. She encountered hundreds of youths who were ensnared by their drug addiction, many of whom were later trafficked. This inspired her to start an anti-drug and youth empowerment organisation ‘Pemuda Indonesia Bersinar’. Gwendolyn has raised $76,000 through fundraising to deliver over 250 anti-drug and youth leadership seminars, establishing the first youth abuse counselling hotline in Indonesia, and facilitating the rehabilitation of 55 drug-addicts. She is currently an ambassador of the Indonesian National Narcotics Agency.
Aparajita has been propagating ‘Service in Diversity’, endorsing the belief that there is only one Earth, and we must do what we can to protect, support and respect it. Aparajita focuses on the ‘Five Pillars of Humanity’, defined as maintaining zero waste, promoting green revolution, canvassing healthy living, spreading happiness and care towards animal welfare. She has been tirelessly involved in educating the general public on ‘Service in Diversity’, through volunteering, campaigning, article writing, and public speaking. Aparajita has inspired fellow students to get involved in her projects, emphasising that each individual is obliged to make a contribution towards each of her ‘Five Pillars of Humanity’ in order to make our world a healthier, happier place.
Ella has overcome her shyness to find her voice and now uses it to support and inspire youth engagement within her school and beyond. At school, she has helped to build a more inclusive and supportive culture, promoting issues surrounding mental health and LGBT staff awareness to be prioritised on the agenda. At city level, her participation in the Council of Portsmouth Student Forum, the ‘Futures in Mind’ Portsmouth Group and the NHS Young Shapers Forum, has ensured that mental health service usability and access by young people is given importance, and that youth have a real say in how their city develops.
Rotherham LAC Council are a committed and enthusiastic group of young people who work selflessly to transform services and improve the lives of Looked After Children. The LAC Council has engaged in numerous consultations and co-production work over the past years to improve the quality of life for LAC in the NHS, Mental Health Services, Early Help and Social Care. Their campaign ‘Bin Liners are NOT suitcases’ successfully secured a commitment from local government to provide all 600+ looked after children with at least one new suitcase and one small holdall so that bin bags will no longer be used. Not only has this raised awareness about the experiences of LAC within the wider community but, crucially, it has improved the lives of those who move from one foster home to another.
Engineering student Sreedivya, is the driving force beind youth group ‘I CARE’ where she encourages children to save a little bit of their pocket money each month and donate it to those less fortunate. With the money raised the group have supported scholarshps for students to continue education, cyclone affected victims and provided medical help to the homeless. In addition to her work with this group she has also been involved in the installation of a water purifer in a village for school children, and campaigns for illiterate villagers to apply for voter ID
An aspiring doctor, Krish joined St John Ambulance in 2014 and has since been an exceptional ambassador of their work to save lives through high quality first aid training. Krish has used his advanced first aid skills to support and train younger cadets and has set up a first aid club at his school, where he was also instrumental in raising funds for new equipment and a defibrillator for St John Ambulance. Krish is adept at balancing a demanding study schedule with his cadet work and leading his school’s first aid club.
Sean is an environmentalist who strongly believes in creating a sustainable world. He is the founder of the initiative #ReadSwapRepeat, an environmental campaign to protect trees from being cut down through adopting the innovative idea of installing community bookshelves to spread the joy of reading and giving a new life to old books. This idea ties together conservation of the environment, gives people free books to read and instils the behaviour of sharing among his community, especially children. He has successfully installed several community bookshelves to give a new life to over one thousand books which cater to around two thousand families in the United Arab Emirates.
Adithya is committed to conserving the environment. As a member of the Emirates Environment Group he has recycled 50kg of aluminium cans and 150kg of paper. Adithya organised a neighbourhood recycling campaign, which focussed on mobile recycling and prepared and distributed flyers explaining the harmful effects of chemicals in poisoning the environment. As well as his campaigns, Adithya creates artwork exhibitions made of recycled items. In addition to his passion for the environment, Adithya has organised campaigns to raise awareness of breast cancer and the dangerous effects of smoking.
Keen to make people aware of their environmental impact, Trisha plays an active role in the Emirates Environmental Group participating in many projects such as the ‘Can Collection Campaign’ where she has collected the highest number of aluminium cans; 100kg of aluminium cans in one month. Trisha’s passion for the environment permeates her school life where she is a role model to her classmates. Her environmental achievements led to her selection as a Green Ambassador. A true environmental leader, Trisha writes articles about the environment, some of which have been published in newspapers in Dubai.
Giorgi is the cofounder of the ‘youth science club of Georgia’ aimed at helping Georgian students with limited English learn more about science, innovations, and Georgian history in their native language, while also learning English. After struggling to learn scientific English himself, and realising the lack materials on these subjects, Giorgi decided to start translating scientific news to Georgian to make these resources available for everyone. Giorgi has motivated and united the students in his club to take part in competitions, boosting their confidence and giving them the opportunity to bring their ideas to reality.
The Smile Clan is a group of four driven young people who have taken up numerous campaigning, voluntary and fundraising activities, aiming to bring about positive change in their school. The group initiates campaigns and workshops, from raising awareness of the harmful effects of Styrofoam and its alternatives, to campaigns and bake sales aimed at providing women with sanitary products in developing countries. They are inspired by dayto-day issues such as poverty, malnutrition and the lack of access to basic amenities and services. The team also spread their positive messages on a wider virtual platform via their blog, where there are regular discussions and sharing of ideas.
Jodie is a unique young lady and a ‘shining example’. Jodie was diagnosed with Plantar Fasciosis, a condition that can cause extreme pain, but this has not deterred her. She is a 4 star cadet instructor in The Highlanders Army Cadet Force (ACF) and a qualified Drum Major in their Pipe Band. Jodie has inspired others to join the ACF and helped tutor new recruits. Jodie has helped to raise thousands of pounds for charities such as Poppy Scotland, Ssafa, Cuddle Cot for Local Hospital and Commando Vets Association. She demonstrates outstanding leadership skills in roles such as Football Team Captain and Section Commander.
Following the deaths of his father and uncle in the space of 10 months, Harry selflessly dedicates his time to raise money to help and support those in need. Through a series of ambitious fundraisers, including climbing the O2 Arena and abseiling Middlesbrough’s Transporter Bridge, Harry has raised in excess of £9,000 for Maggie’s charity and Cardiac Risk in the Young. He has been the focus of school assemblies and local newspapers, which have inspired many children his age to reflect upon their own life. In an area of social and economic deprivation Harry is considered to be a ‘beacon of hope’ in his community, showing just what can be achieved through determination and a positive mind-set.
Jacob is passionate about local democracy, dedicating the last 18 months to engaging his peers in democracy through a comprehensive training and development programme. As a lead member of Kirklees Youth Council, Jacob has reached in excess of 100 students and volunteered a huge amount of his own time to make sure the programme meets the needs of young people from a range of social and economic backgrounds. He has engaged with stakeholders from a variety of social settings and put in motion a training package which has been recognised by MP Chris Skidmore. Jacob’s enthusiasm means that more young people in the Kirklees area are engaging in political issues.
Sreelekshmi is a passionate volunteer and campaigner with a focus on humanitarian issues. Sreelekshmi has been dedicated to giving back to society since childhood. She believes that social service is a duty and has donated hair for cancer patients, organised various campaigns for Organ Donation Awareness, organised an Iftar Kit distribution program for 200 labourers, and conducted various assemblies at school on different humanitarian topics. Sreelekshmi believes there is no greater happiness than the happiness that comes to us by serving others.
Jessica is a carer and volunteer committed to putting the needs of others before her own. She has emerged as an inspirational leader in her Army Cadet Force, supporting younger cadets to develop their confidence and resilience. The enthusiasm she shows in towards promoting the Detachment has been the driving force behind Scarborough being awarded Champion Detachment in Yorkshire. Jessica has also raised a large amount of money for the Royal British Legion, organising a range of activities from game nights to poppy sales. Alongside her voluntary work, Jessica also provides care for her mother who is registered blind alongside volunteering with a local charity for the blind.
A motivated and diligent student, Tasnima is overflowing with brilliant ideas to incorporate into her school community. Whether it be a new awareness program or organising a fundraiser, all of her projects underline the vision: championing community talent and action to better effect our world. Her most ambitious and successful initiative, Blood Donation Drive, wholly defined this vision. Tasnima had been persistently implementing this project for two years, establishing a community of youth donors to face the scarcity of blood donations. Her project garnered huge success, gaining hundreds of interested donors.
Jade has demonstrated compassion and dedication to supporting causes she feels strongly about and promotes education as the means to achieve one's goals in life. She has not allowed previous experiences of bullying to colour her attitude towards others and has selflessly given her time to help the youngest and most vulnerable students settle into secondary school. Jade volunteers at various school events and was selected to be Head Girl. She is also a member of the Doncaster Youth Council and was subsequently elected to become part of the National Youth Council. Her maturity and vision for the school makes Jade an exemplary role model.
Miki’s hometown of Belize City sits in the middle of gang turf, with one of the highest murder rates in the world. After witnessing an execution in front of his school, Miki channelled the horrific tramua he experienced to become a role model, acting as an advocate for volunteerism. Miki rigorously trains as a cadet, offering to carry out duties including volunteering at local hospitals under hot and chaotic conditions, providing compassionate patient care. Miki also competed in the Sagicor Visionaries Challenge, winning first place with his innovative ideas to clean up Belize beaches and increase tourism. In a city that is torn apart by youth gangs committing crimes, Mikhail shines out as a true visionary and leader.
Inspired by the story of ‘Wonder’, Annsley has written her own book ‘A Brave New Day’ and developed training programmes to tackle bullying in her local schools, reaching over 1,000 students so far. Annsley is the epitome of a great role model for students younger than her and her peers, striving to be inclusive and making sure she appreciates everyone's different talents. Annsley is always working to inspire others to join in with her anti-bullying work and was recently recognised by the President of the United States with a Gold Presidential Community Service Award for her efforts and service.
Suniti has grown into an independent, enthusiastic leader, who is always eager to help those in need. From a young age, Suniti began showing interest in representing Sai School through singing, dancing, teaching and hosting events, encouraging other pupils do the same. Suniti has led assemblies and continues to teach various classes and represents Sai School at festivals, such as at the Houses of Parliament and Trafalgar Square. She has performed in front of thousands of people, demonstrating commitment to learning her choreography, while promoting community integration. As a teacher and performer, Suniti inspires other young people to use their own talents to fundraise and help the community.
In 2014, Saif and his family were captured by ISIS. After living in terror for two years, Saif managed to escape, whilst most of his family members did not. Following the trauma, Saif decided to use his experience to help others who had been through what he had and wrote a book about his village and the genocide to raise awareness. He encouraged and helped other survivors who had been through what he had been through and those living in refugee camps, to overcome their problems and set up a Facebook page. Saif has managed to do this without either of his parents, who are still missing, and continues to write about the ordeal that his community is facing.
A dedicated and enthusiastic volunteer, Kevin devotes his spare time sharing his personal story of living with a spinal cord injury and inspiring young people who share similar experiences. Kevin has wholeheartedly thrown himself into helping alongside the charity Back Up, as he feels that he could make a positive difference to someone who may be struggling, just like he was at times. As a young mentor and wheelchair skills trainer, Kevin is committed to help other young people overcome their own challenges and develop confidence and skills. Kevin’s can-do attitude towards life has helped transform the lives of the young people he meets.
As a young person diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and wishing to assist others, Grace had an idea to raise awareness of this silent illness by creating a sign to highlight the disability. This sign, now known as ‘Grace’s sign’, is displayed outside toilets in major venues where it creates an avenue for people to understand the silent disability. Since its implementation, Grace’s sign has reached local and international audiences and her cause has been formally endorsed by members of the Scottish Parliament. As well as raising awareness about Crohn’s disease, Grace has also fundraised for many charities, last year completing ‘The Kilt Walk’.
Bradley is a dedicated volunteer and champion of young people. Bradley volunteers with St John Ambulance, his Community Football Group and works alongside members of the OWL Cymru Crime and Safety Team as a crime prevention cadet. He has given over 200 hours of his time over the course of the last year to help make a difference to the lives of others. Bradley has been subject to bullying but channelled his energy into something positive, helping others who are going through similar situations. His support and understanding has given other young people the confidence to achieve more and find the strength to succeed.
Emily is a beacon of hope and a mentor for those who face bullying and intimidation. Emily was bullied verbally and emotionally on social media, as well as, socially excluded. She took this experience and converted it into a tool to help others. She created ‘S.T.O.P’, a club at her school that deals with bullying, tactics to prevent and overcome it. She wants others to learn how to stand up for themselves and be upstanders for others who cannot. Her mission is to empower students and provide a supportive, nurturing environment that promotes early success that will transfer into adult life.
Siobhan does not let her Cerebral Palsy and epilepsy diagnosis hold her back, working hard to take a full and active role in her school and wider community through her time spent volunteering at a school for pupils with severe disabilities. Siobhan works closely with a class teacher to assist with activities and helps pupils with their learning. She is always at the front of school fundraising activities, demonstrating her determination to succeed and acting as a role model to others. She has learned how to get the most out of every experience and encourages others to be more patient and aware of disability.
Rossendale Youth Council have taken part in research work involving five European countries looking at the impact controlling relationships have on young people. This led to an app being developed and shared for young people to use to help them understand controlling relationships and where to find help. This work was presented to a World Youth Conference in Geneva and European conference in Brussels. In addition, they have committed their free time to represent youth voice on topics such as: advocating to MPs on behalf of disabled people, working with NCS tackling domestic violence and promoting anti-bullying work in schools.
Katie is an inspiring young woman who has not let her complex heart condition stop her from raising an incredible £35,000 to fund public and training defibrillators across her local area. Katie’s tireless fundraising efforts mean that more people in the community have been trained in how to save a life following a cardiac arrest. Her hard work and determination mean that despite feeling unwell most days, she ensures that others are made aware of cardiac conditions through her own appeal, assemblies she delivers at her school and using social media.
Amal and Akshaya were appalled by the levels of inequality in Zambia. After a trip to India to observe techniques to help individuals develop skills through training they set up ‘Make Empowered Self Help Groups Zambia’ (MESH). MESH has trained forty women from an under-developed rural area of Zambia, in tailoring or baking. From the profits made from the products, the women have been able to generate sustainable income to support their families and improved their living standards. Amal and Akshaya conducted all the research, found a translator to communicate with the women and gained municipal support from the Mayor.
