A HOST of Teesdale youngsters have been recognised for their achievements in the 2021 Young People’s Award Ceremony.
County Durham Youth Council, which includes young people aged 11 to 19, aims to give them a voice in decision making. The annual awards ceremony, which was run over five days via social media, highlighted some of the achievements of youngsters in the county.
Leah Merrington, youth council member, said: “The young people’s awards look at recognising and celebrating the achievements of young people and also the workers who help to support them.”
More than 150 nominations in 11 categories were received and judges had a difficult time in whittling down the winners.
Keen gardener Aidan Marmont, from Bowes, raised more than £2,000 for NHS charities and a local hospice growing and selling his own plants during the first national lockdown.
Aidan, a pupil at Teesdale School, was one of ten youngsters to be presented with a Spotlight Award in the 2021 Young People’s Awards.
Ms Merrington added: “Aidan worked very hard as he grew his own plants on his allotment and put them on his garden wall with a notice and an honesty box, so people could buy items. We were very impressed by his work and we would like to say that this award was very well deserved.”
Two Teesdale youngsters were presented with creativity awards. Ethan Fletcher from Mickleton, devised his own radio station during the first lockdown. The station looked at issues facing young people, organised games, quizzes and interviews with children and members of the community.
Kirsty McLachlan, from Boldron, was also a recipient of a creativity award for her positivity during lockdown creating and performing online.
She also netted a Wow Award for her commitment and dedication to her music and instrument playing.
Bethany Middleton earned herself a Little Superstar Award for writing and illustrating her own book, The Clumsy Cat, and raising money for the food bank and Friends of Woodland School.
The TCR Hub Duke of Edinburgh Awards team were also one of the award winners.
They completed risk assessments, planned Covid-19 friendly routes for expeditions and faced bad weather – and disaster when tents were damaged – to complete the awards scheme.
Rachel Tweddle, chief executive of the TCR Hub, said: “It’s amazing to think only five Duke of Edinburgh Gold groups completed their expedition in Cumbria last year and two of those were TCR groups. It showed amazing team work.”
