Young people’s achievements recognised at special awards ceremony
Young people’s achievements were marked at an annual award ceremony yesterday evening at Hackney Town Hall.
The Hackney Youth Awards celebrates young people from 6 to 19 (or up to 25 SEND), who have been nominated by youth workers, partner organisations and commissioned providers in the borough.
Nominations were received across eight categories, which were reviewed and shortlisted by an independent panel of young people who supported organising the event, along with Young Hackney staff and Young Hackney Event Ambassadors.
More than 250 guests attended the event, including event nominees and their families, which is now in its 9th year. Deputy Mayor Cllr Bramble, and Cllr Shelia Suso-Runge, the Speaker of the Council, attended the evening, along with other senior members of the council.
The event was hosted by Martha Newman, one of the Young Speakers of Hackney & Romeo Bremmer, a Hackney Youth Parliament Member, who was also the senior winner of the Inspirational Young Person Award. When asked about the awards, Romeo said: ”Living and growing up in Hackney, I see so many amazing things that young people are doing and recognising [that] is so important.”
Noah Schwartz, winner of the Young Explorer Award, spoke about about it felt like to win an award: ” It's such an incredible opportunity to be able to go on that stage and see something that I did be celebrated (...). I think knowing that our achievements have been seen (...) really makes us feel like we can do more in the future.”
Audience members were treated to a thrilling group dance performance by E-Kidz, who hail from Concorde Youth Hub and a solo singing performance from Makaiya during the night too.
Whether you've come here for an award or not, absolutely well done. We are proud of you, we see you, we celebrate you, and we commend you. Grown-ups get to be my age and older, and we don't always achieve the fantastic things that you have done as young people.
Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Education, Young People and Children's Social Care„
The full list of winners from the 9th Hackney Youth Award.
Positive Choice & Achievement Award:
Junior winner: Rushane Raymond
Senior winner: Sheniyah Riley
Young Explorer Award:
Junior winner: Yasser Ilyas Saidani
Senior winner: Noah Schwartz
Creativity, Innovation & Ambition Award:
Young Hackney Ending Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG): Young Leaders project
Tamba Ngegba Young Leader Award:
Chelsey Murphy
Project of the Year Award:
Leaside Year of Partnerships 2024
Outstanding Volunteer Award:
Junior winner: Aima Mohamoud
Senior winner: Serena Kamara
Overcoming Adversity Award:
Junior winner: Dean Pluck
Senior winner: Oscar Warr
Inspirational Young Person Award:
Junior winner: Malu Wilson-Pereira
Senior winner: Romeo Bremmer