Our Young Lives service scored an outstanding hat-trick at this year’s annual NE Youth Impact Awards held at the Grand Hotel, Newcastle.
The judges voted Young Lives ‘Most Improved Project of the Year’ in recognition of the increase in the number of children and young people welcomed and the diversity of activities offered to them.
In its first year, Young Lives engaged 88 children and young people through 36 sport and arts sessions, while supporting 35 parents, carers, and guardians. Over the past year, Young Lives has grown significantly, supporting 322 children and young people through 236 youth sessions, providing tailored support to 92 families.
Community Champion of the Year was Sally McGee, who set up Surf Yonder in Tynemouth and runs the Solace Surf Club – Action Foundation’s girls-only surf sessions.
And there wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Young Lives participant, Abbas, stepped up to receive the Young Achiever of the Year award.
Abbas said: “I had so much fun and it was a good night. Thanks to all of the people who organised it and to the Cheesy Waffles team because they became my friends!”
Bridget Stratford, MBE, who manages Young Lives, added:
The NE Youth Impact Awards is a showcase of the best youth work in our region and a great opportunity to connect with other youth organisations and celebrate a lot of amazing children.
“We were delighted to win Most Improved Youth Project of the year and everyone was so happy for Abbas when he won Young Achiever. Abbas has achieved so much and overcome so many challenges, he really is an incredible young person. We were also really proud of Sally, who runs our Solace Surf Club, for winning Community Champion.”
