Young people achieving great things
Welcome I’m delighted to welcome you to the 2010 Philip Lawrence Awards ceremony. Yet again young people have surprised and impressed the judges with their inspiring work. With an even bigger field of entries to choose from, the judging was particularly tough. We are very grateful to the team of past winners who read every entry and came up with an excellent short list of 35. Eventually the judging panel managed to agree who would be recognised today for their drive, innovation and special achievement in making a true difference to their communities. Though we know that it has been a tough year, these young people show us that things can change for the better. Today is their day.
Sir Trevor McDonald OBE
Programme 9.30am
Guest registration and Festival
11:00am
Ceremony
Future Talent Sir Trevor McDonald OBE Frances Lawrence Rt Hon Theresa May, Home Secretary – video message Presentation of awards Tim Loughton MP, Department for Education ZooYouth
12:00pm
Lunch and Festival
2:00pm
Close
If you’re twittering today, use the hashtag #PLAwards
Congratulations to our 2010 winners
Frances with Home Secretary Theresa May and PLAnet Fellowship at the judging session for the 2010 Awards.
Philip believed in the infinite capacity of the human
Thank you for comaing to this ceremony which, in
spirit to confront difficulties and to transform failure
its 14th year, represents constancy in a world of
into success. The Philip Lawrence Awards echo his
change; reflecting values that transcend boundaries
belief by providing an opportunity for young people
of place and time, it celebrates the young people
to share their vision of society and its problems, to
who exemplify them.
showcase their solutions and to become connected to the political process - not just for their own benefit but for the benefit of society - and not just for a brief time but in order to create a lasting solution.
The Festival Please join our celebrations in the David Lean room
winners and supporters, enjoy musical performances
before and after the ceremony and take part in our
and take part in the PLAnet Fellowship’s Who am I?
Festival where you can mingle with our amazing new
campaign challenging stereotypes of young people.
2010 Winners Aik Saath Slough Aik Saath, which means ‘Together as one’ in Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu, is a group of young people working together to build peace within the Asian communities of Slough. They tackle racism and conflict through peer-led training and facilitation.
Aldbourne CAN Wiltshire Aldbourne Youth Council transformed their village’s old public toilets into a welcoming internet café for the community. These young people are bringing generations together, taking responsibility, and creating an inspiring model that they hope others will adopt.
Back to the Future Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland A film project by young people from Carrickfergus YMCA and PAKT looking back at the loyalist and para-military history of their estate through teenagers’ eyes, and forward to building an inclusive, shared future for everyone in Northern Ireland.
Bikes2Gambia Hackney, London Hackney’s Volunteer Police Cadets are steering clear of involvement in crime and gangs, developing skills and helping others in their own communities and further afield, through repairing bicycles to send to Gambian orphanages, sports coaching and running activities for local young people.
Forsythia Youth Project Merthyr Tydfil, Wales These young people refuse to be written off by their postcode, getting involved in volunteering, setting up a community gym and taking part in positive activities. They are proving that given respect and opportunities, every young person is capable of greatness.
Haggeye Scotland Haggeye is the forum for blind and partially sighted young people across Scotland. Working together they campaign, consult and make a difference, improving accessibility of services. Through this work they are flourishing as independent, confident young leaders.
Winners Continued LIVES NOT KNIVES Croydon The Lives not Knives team are young people who have experienced friends killed or injured by knife crime. Passionate about stopping their younger peers getting involved, they work hard campaigning, training peer mentors, and taking their roadshow to schools.
SW!TCH ID Dagenham Challenging negative perceptions and transforming local public opinion of young people into something positive. SW!TCH ID tackle local issues, engage the community and organise activities such as litterpicking flashmobs, a community art show and family fun days.
Supported by
Special Commendation Trick or Treat, Wakefield A young theatre group who responded positively to the tragic murder of a local teenager by performing and running workshops in schools to get across the impact of violent crime and hopefully prevent similar attacks.
Future Talent Future Talent is delighted to support today’s performers Ben Clark and Richard Rayner in their musical development. Established at the end of 2004 by Katharine, Duchess of Kent and Nicholas Robinson, Headmaster of Kings College School in Cambridge, Future Talent provides critical support to further exceptional musical talent where it would otherwise be lost. They find, fund, monitor and nurture gifted young musicians whose current financial circumstances prevent them from reaching their musical potential. In pursuing this aim, they also give many other young people the opportunity to grow through music. Whatever their aspirations, Future Talent nurtures individuals throughout their development until support is no longer required. This gives exceptionally talented, and committed young people the chance to aim high and fulfil their musical potential and thanks to this underlying philosophy, Future Talent has attracted the support of some of the UK’s most eminent musicians and educators.
ZooYouth ZooYouth is part of ZooNation, a dance company which has been working with young people since 2002 with workshops held across the country and a school with over 150 pupils aged from four years old through to 19. ZooYouth began in 2006 and includes some of the best young hip-hoppers in the UK with dancers from all over London, and from as far as Manchester, Stoke, Birmingham and Brighton. The dancers today include young people aged from eight to 18. As well as performing as part of the cast of West End show Into the Hoods, ZooYouth have performed on Move Like Michael Jackson (BBC), Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday Celebrations (worldwide broadcast), the Marks & Spencer Christmas Commercial 2010, Blue Peter and a music video for band Digress. Their theatre, festival and other live performances include Breakin’ Convention and Live Vibe at Sadler’s Wells, Move It dance show at Olympia, Latitude Festival, Channel 4 Festival, Tag ’Em at Westfield Shopping Centre, and the charity event Kidz Take Control.
The Fellowship Winning a Philip Lawrence Award is something special and something to be very proud of. Winners are the face of the awards and symbolise its core belief that every young person is capable of greatness. It’s also the start of something. Our winners are joining a unique group: the PLAnet Fellowship, which brings past winners together from across the years. Being part of PLAnet means we can bring young people from diverse walks of life, from around the country to share their experiences and learn from each other. They feed into the direction
and development of the programme. They have opportunities to represent the positivity and energy of young people on a national stage. The Fellowship encourages young people to get involved, it empowers them to raise their aspirations and achieve. Ultimately, they become part of a very special legacy that is the Philip Lawrence Awards. Arron Miller, PLAnet participation team
Thanks We’d like to say a huge thank you to all the people whose time and commitment have helped to make today possible: the two judging panels; the young people in our Fellowship and Ambassador team; Future Talent; ZooYouth; our presenters and Festival performers; all those working behind the scenes, and of course our guests.
Thank you for celebrating with us and for helping to recognise the amazing difference young people are making in our communities.
We are very grateful to our partners the Home Office, Department for Education and Catch22, and our supporters Children & Young People Now, NASUWT and Fearless.
Catch22 Registered charity number 1124127