BRILLIANT local young people who show enthusiasm, determination and passion for their community were celebrated at Wigan Youth Zone’s first-ever Young People Awards Event.
The Young People Awards Ceremony was hosted on Saturday 20th of November 2021 at Wigan Youth Zone, highlighting achievements, stories of compassion and leadership demonstrated by Wigan Youth Zone’s young people.
Celebrating their first year, the awards recognise a variety of achievements by young people in Wigan and Leigh area. These awards highlight accomplishments across a range of categories, such as “The Bill Ainscough Rising Star Award” and “The Dave Whelan’s Sports Person of the Year Award”. The awards recognise the valuable contributions that young people are making in the local community today. Over 150 young people aged 8 -19 (25 with additional needs) were nominated for an award across 10 categories, of which xx were shortlisted.
In attendance at the Awards were two Wigan Youth Zone founders, Bill Ainscough and Martin Ainscough CBE DL and The Lady Smith DL, who presented “The Lord Peter Smith Community Hero Award” named after the former Leader of Wigan Council who sadly passed away earlier this year. Martin Ainscough surprised everyone on the evening by announcing that all the young people shortlisted would be invited for a two-night complimentary residential at Adventure Parc Snowdonia, which the young people were thrilled about.
In addition to this, all members who were shortlisted for an award received a certificate of appreciation and the winners received a trophy along with a £75 gift voucher. The nominated individuals have managed to achieve great things, given back to their community and made a lasting difference at Wigan Youth Zone.
Jonathan Nyahodya, a senior Wigan Youth Zone member, won the Role Model of the Year Award for his exemplary behaviour, great attitude towards activities and positive influence on other members at Wigan Youth Zone’s Satellite Centre in Shackerley .
Alongside the award presentations was a performance by Owen Bolton, a Wigan Youth Zone Alumnus who discovered his passion and talent for Music at the Youth Zone. He has now graduated from the prestigious Guildford School of Acting and is hoping to launch an album in 2022.
The event was live-streamed on TIK TOK where over 313 friends and supporters tuned into the special event.
Wigan Youth Zones Head of Youth Work Nikki Varley said:
“It was humbling to be surrounded by so many talented, resilient, and pioneering young people. The success stories shared were a resounding reminder of the power of youth work and the positive impact Youth Zones can have on young people’s lives and in turn the wider community. We are so proud of our members, many of whom have achieved incredible things in a very difficult year. Huge congratulations to all the very worthy finalists and award winners.”
Wigan Youth Zone is committed to celebrating Wigan and Leigh’s young people along with creating opportunities by offering young people somewhere to go, something to do, and some to talk to every day.
Winners:
Joshua Charlton – The Kindness Counts Award
Connor Reeve – Young Creative of the Year Award
James Julian – Dave Whelan Sportsperson of the Year
Gemma Unsworth – Lord Peter Smith Community Hero Award
Jonathan Nyahodya – Role Model Award
Victor Ndoukaou – The Bill Ainscough Rising Star Award
Kenya Lavis – The Bernard Edmunds Young Entrepreneur Award
Social Squad (Courtney Holmes, Olivia Disley and Caitlyn Pearce) – The lockdown contribution award
Kai Jones – The Martin Ainscough Special Achievement
Sarah Collinge – The Outstanding Contribution Award
The benefit that Wigan Youth Zone has on the communities of Wigan and Leigh is significant with a social impact rating of 2.17 – or in other words, every £1 invested in the charity returns an impact on the community of £2.17. To support the work of Wigan Youth Zone please visit https://www.wiganyouthzone.org/donate/.