Search for
Search for
Search forYoung praised for making a difference
Friday, November 21, 2008, 07:00
Unsung heroes were recognised for their spirit and service to others at a glittering ceremony in front of a VIP audience at City College Plymouth's Kings Road campus.
Lord Mayor of Plymouth Cllr Brian Vincent and Lady Mayoress Pauline Murphy and Plymouth MPs Linda Gilroy and Alison Seabeck were among the guests at at the Herald Youth Awards 2008 last night.
The awards were hosted by The Herald editor Bill Martin with Olympic diving star Tom Daley handing out the glass trophies.
And the tables were turned on Tom when he was presented with a surprise award, The Herald's inaugural prize as the Young Ambassador for Plymouth.
Editor Bill Martin said: "Youngsters receive far more than their fair share of criticism and today's ceremony aims to show the good, praiseworthy, inspiring and uplifting qualities which teenagers possess."
The winner in the community award category certainly lived up to that billing.
The DY2K Bonfire Project team of about 15 youths from Devonport have organised a crime-free fireworks display in Devonport over the past few years. Police were worried about crime and anti-social behaviour so worked with the youngsters through a youth centre.
Team member Ben Morgan, 13, said: "Our event this year was excellent. We're really pleased to win an award."
Lee Bromley, 17, added: "We are proud to win. We put our hearts and souls into the project. It's great to be rewarded."
.
The winners of The Herald's Most Enterprising Youth in Business award were children from Woodfield Primary School in Whitleigh.
They set up their own bank, with the support of St Boniface's College, to help the pupils understand the basics of managing money.
Every child had the chance to open an account and pay in money.
Joanne Watson, nine, said: "The bank now runs every other Tuesday and we really enjoying doing it and we think we have learned a lot."
Adele Dodd, 10, added: "Everyone at school will be really pleased."
Rosie Small, 16, from the Plymouth Foyer housing project in Stonehouse, scooped the Matthew Searle award for the progression of a young person on a Princes Trust programme.
She overcame 'significant challenges' to make progress in her life and has now started training for a youth worker qualification.
Rosie said: "I was a disruptive young person, involved in drugs – but now I have worked to get past that and I am helping others get through that too. I was honoured to get an award."
Mr Martin surprised his 14-year-old co-host with a departure from the joint script – with the Young Ambassador for Plymouth award.
He said: "This year's winner is someone who not only excelled in sport but has also shown incredible maturity while meeting everyone from the Queen and Prime Minister to Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Henry Cooper.
"You make Plymouth really proud – not just as a world-class diver but because you have won everyone's respect simply for the way you are."
Tom said: "It's a great feeling to think that the people of Plymouth believe that I am a role model.
"I was just pleased to support The Herald's Youth Awards. It was an excellent event. There were so many deserving winners."
Hele's School in Plympton won the prize for the School's Herald Team of the Year – sponsored by the University of Plymouth.
The honour is awarded to the school or group which has produced the best mini newspaper over the past 12 months.
The prize is judged by former newspaper editor and industry consultant David Scott. It is the second time the school has won in three years.
The University of Plymouth Student Volunteer of the Year was James Redfearn, vice-president of the Students' Union.
James had been a key figure in helping 1,000 students take part in voluntary projects, out of a student body of 20,000.
He said: "It is a great way for students to meet people they would not usually meet, whether they are on environmental projects or helping the elderly."
Jonathan Gillham won the University of Plymouth's Business Ideas Challenge prize for the year's best commercial plan for his vision of a company supplying hi-tech timing devices to amateur sports people. He has set up a company, called QED4, which is now looking for funding.
Jonathan said: "I am a cyclist myself and top timing equipment can help athletes improve their performance but is too expensive for most people."
Students Rebecca Wood, Carline James, Lee Fordham, Yueyang Pan and Gus Palmer won the University of Plymouth's FLUX Challenge. They have qualified for the national championships.
They were given a realistic problem to solve from a diving treatment centre.
Lee said: "It was really exciting, the sort of stuff we had to learn. It was interesting because we all come from very different fields of study."
A team of girls from Plymouth High School for Girls and Plymouth College won the Young Enterprise Challenge 2008, an award organised by Tamar Education Business Partnership.
The team, including Emily Hollingsworth, Megan Darby and Emily Geens, had to set up and manage their own real businesses for one academic year. The girls' company, Ambiente, made personalised shoulder bags.
Emily Hollingsworth said: "I want to set up my own business now."
Devonport High School for Boys A team won the Plymouth Schools' Enginuity Challenge, a special award sponsored by HSBC.
This year's Scylla Challenge involved teams tasked with making torches in the dark confines of a simulated ship's hull.
A team from City College Plymouth won the Make Your Mark Challenge, an award sponsored by the college. The group impressed the judges with a business idea for hosting events.
The sponsors of the awards – now in their third year – were the college, the university and Apex Care Solutions Ltd, which enables people with learning disabilities to gain access to opportunities. Mike Mcgrory, from Apex, said: "It was a fantastic ceremony and a great way to encourage young people to achieve in life."
View more pictures on-line at www.thisisplymouth.co.uk
100% Compensation with Free Service. No Win No Fee Start Claim online.
Pet Insurance- 5% Online Discount
UK Pet Insurance. Buy instantly online. From just £4.85 per month.
Looking to buy a DIY conservatory? Master Plastics offer flat packed DIY conservatories built to your design for delivery to both DIY and trade users anywhere in the UK.
ENTRANCED: VIPS in the auidence, far left, and, left, the main award -winners take to the stage
It would be much more appropriate to have an outsized bronze or even brightly coloured acryllic statue of one of Beryl Cook's Janner women.
Comment on this story