News
First National Awards Recognise Youth Workers’ Community Contributions
03 November 2011
Young people, Members of Parliament and youth sector leaders came together last night (2 November 2011) to celebrate and recognise youth workers’ extraordinary contribution to communities at the first National Youth Worker Awards.
The event, which was held at the House of Commons, was organised by the National Youth Agency as part of Youth Work Week 2011 (31 October – 6 November 2011) and was hosted by Baroness Tyler, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families Tim Loughton MP and National Youth Agency Chief Executive Fiona Blacke.
Nominations for the awards were made by young people and community leaders through Facebook and Twitter during October and the shortlisted winners were selected by young people and Children and Young People Now Editor Ravi Chandiramani.
Candy Huxham, a youth worker from Hythe and Dibden in the New Forest was awarded Youth Worker of the Year by Baroness Tyler for her outstanding contribution to her local community, working with young people with a diverse range of needs to ensure they have the best opportunities in life.
On receiving the Youth Worker Award, Candy said: “Youth work is what I do. My young people know that they can contact me at any time, with any problem and I will be there for them. I don’t think I am different to any other youth worker though as you do this job because you love it and you know that love drives you to make a difference.”
Qudues Zafar, a youth worker from Birmingham and founder of Stechford Youth Network Limited, and Kim Kyle, leader of an urban youth project in Gateshead, were shortlisted for the Awards and presented with trophies for their dedication to young people in their areas.
Before the award presentations, the audience was given and insight into a diverse range of youth work projects, including St John Ambulance’s Rise and Aspire programmes and Worcester youth radio Youthcomm’s Minifest.
Young people from across England also shared their stories about the transformational difference youth work, and in particular their youth workers, had made to their lives and their communities.
Fiona Blacke, National Youth Agency Chief Executive, said: “Many congratulations to our award winners. Without youth workers there is no youth work, and without youth work many young people will not be given the opportunity to grow, develop and become full members of society.
“The Youth Worker Awards gives us a chance to celebrate and recognise the work of outstanding youth workers. But youth workers shouldn’t just be celebrated tonight, they should be recognised every single day. We believe that by recognising the contribution of great youth workers we can demonstrate to policy makers and funders the true value of youth work, not as a ‘nice to have’ but as an essential form of provision in improving the lives of young people and their communities.”
Youth Work Week has been coordinated by the National Youth Agency since 1993 and is held in the first week of November to provide an opportunity for youth organisations, youth workers and young people engaged in youth work to celebrate the achievements and impact of youth work throughout the UK at a time when budgetary decisions are being made nationally.
In addition to the Youth Worker Awards, this year the National Youth Agency is also organising a round table event on 14 November 2011 for policy makers, youth sector leaders and young people to come together to discuss the value of investing in youth work.
For further information about Youth Work Week and the work of the National Youth Agency visit: www.nya.org.uk
Baroness Tyler (center left) presents Candy Huxham (center right) Qudues Zafar (left) and Kim Kyle (right) with the first Youth Worker Awards