Awards celebrate outstanding young people
Slough Youth Awards returned to The Curve on 8 November to celebrate and recognise the impressive contributions young people make to the town. An audience of local people, friends, family, council staff, and members of the community and voluntary sector were treated to entertainment by talented young people, including Slough Community Youth Soul Choir led by Rebecca Richardson, before the awards were presented.
This year’s winners are as follows:
• Young Artist
Winner: Siyona Bhandari.
Runner up: Harjaap Singh.
Commended: Kambiz Mouj and Aik Saath – Together as One.
• Young Inspiration – with three joint winners in this category:
Jamie, Susuana Senghor, Vaania Faisal .
• Young Entrepreneur
Ditton Park Academy – Sustainability Group.
• Young Environmentalist
Herschel Grammar Eco Committee.
• Young Sportsperson
Winner: Klaudia Walas.
Runners up: Aarushe Singh and Zahir Chaudhery.
• Young Volunteer of the Year
Four young people have been shortlisted and the winner will be announced at the Slough Voluntary Sector Awards on 15 November:
Neil Rutlidge, Damien Breslin, Sanna Malik, Hassan Fazeel.
Susuana Senghor, winner of the Young Inspiration Award, said: “I volunteer because I genuinely care, I want young people to be more integrated into the community. This award will help me further my message.”
Zahir Chaudhery, runner up in the Young Sportsperson Award category, said: “I like to teach sports classes and I am aware of the knife crime going on, and problems with young people. I am happy to speak up as I am confident that I will be heard. A difference can be made about the issues if we use sports and activities. I am going to pursue sport and I am a world champion so I want to help.”
Aarushe Singh, runner up in the Young Sportsperson Award category, said: “I am really grateful to receive this award as it’s important to try new things and believe in yourself. I take this opportunity to continue to make a positive contribution to Slough.”
Harjaap Singh, runner up in the Young Artist Award category said: “Wherever you are in the world, whoever you are, you can always go out and tell stories that will engage, motivate and inspire young people.”
The 2019 awards also saw the introduction of a special new category – the Democracy Award.
Make Your Mark is the biggest youth consultation in the UK and this year more than 8,000 young people in Slough took part in deciding their priorities.
Slough Youth Parliament has introduced the new award to recognise the secondary schools with the best participation.
• Democracy Award for the highest percentage turnout at the UK Ballot: Lynch Hill Academy, with 96.75 percent of students taking part.
• Democracy Award for the highest percentage turnout at the Devolved Ballot:
Eden Girls School, with 95.58 percent of students taking part.
• Democracy Award for the most participating students:
Langley Grammar School, where 1,920 votes were cast.
Ketan Gandhi, service lead for communities and leisure, said: “It was a fantastic night. Congratulations to everyone involved in organising another successful Slough Youth Awards event and most of all to all our talented and dedicated young people for their fantastic achievements. Well done.”
Slough Youth Awards are supported by the council’s Young People’s Service, Slough Youth Parliament and Slough Council for Voluntary Service (CVS).
For more information on Slough’s youth voice initiatives, please email: sloughforyouth@slough.gov.uk
This year’s winners are as follows:
• Young Artist
Winner: Siyona Bhandari.
Runner up: Harjaap Singh.
Commended: Kambiz Mouj and Aik Saath – Together as One.
• Young Inspiration – with three joint winners in this category:
Jamie, Susuana Senghor, Vaania Faisal .
• Young Entrepreneur
Ditton Park Academy – Sustainability Group.
• Young Environmentalist
Herschel Grammar Eco Committee.
• Young Sportsperson
Winner: Klaudia Walas.
Runners up: Aarushe Singh and Zahir Chaudhery.
• Young Volunteer of the Year
Four young people have been shortlisted and the winner will be announced at the Slough Voluntary Sector Awards on 15 November:
Neil Rutlidge, Damien Breslin, Sanna Malik, Hassan Fazeel.
Susuana Senghor, winner of the Young Inspiration Award, said: “I volunteer because I genuinely care, I want young people to be more integrated into the community. This award will help me further my message.”
Zahir Chaudhery, runner up in the Young Sportsperson Award category, said: “I like to teach sports classes and I am aware of the knife crime going on, and problems with young people. I am happy to speak up as I am confident that I will be heard. A difference can be made about the issues if we use sports and activities. I am going to pursue sport and I am a world champion so I want to help.”
Aarushe Singh, runner up in the Young Sportsperson Award category, said: “I am really grateful to receive this award as it’s important to try new things and believe in yourself. I take this opportunity to continue to make a positive contribution to Slough.”
Harjaap Singh, runner up in the Young Artist Award category said: “Wherever you are in the world, whoever you are, you can always go out and tell stories that will engage, motivate and inspire young people.”
The 2019 awards also saw the introduction of a special new category – the Democracy Award.
Make Your Mark is the biggest youth consultation in the UK and this year more than 8,000 young people in Slough took part in deciding their priorities.
Slough Youth Parliament has introduced the new award to recognise the secondary schools with the best participation.
• Democracy Award for the highest percentage turnout at the UK Ballot: Lynch Hill Academy, with 96.75 percent of students taking part.
• Democracy Award for the highest percentage turnout at the Devolved Ballot:
Eden Girls School, with 95.58 percent of students taking part.
• Democracy Award for the most participating students:
Langley Grammar School, where 1,920 votes were cast.
Ketan Gandhi, service lead for communities and leisure, said: “It was a fantastic night. Congratulations to everyone involved in organising another successful Slough Youth Awards event and most of all to all our talented and dedicated young people for their fantastic achievements. Well done.”
Slough Youth Awards are supported by the council’s Young People’s Service, Slough Youth Parliament and Slough Council for Voluntary Service (CVS).
For more information on Slough’s youth voice initiatives, please email: sloughforyouth@slough.gov.uk
