AROUND ninety youngsters from schools and colleges in Castle Point and Rochford received their Jack Petchey Foundation achievement awards.
They were presented at a live event at Waterside Farm Leisure Centre to the winners aged 11 to 25.
They were commended for contributions to their school or college and community.
Winners received medallions and framed certificates from the foundation along with a £300 grant for them to spend to benefit their school or youth group.
In addition, seven adults were awarded leader awards for demonstrating outstanding ability to motivate young people. They each received a medallion and a framed certificate.
Winners included Evelyn Groves, 16, who attends Castle View School, was awarded for her resilience when she was extremely ill during the pandemic. She took multiple her journeys to Great Ormond Street and her local hospital in her stride and came back fighting.
Evelyn’s Jack Petchey coordinator, Pacale Bardiaux-Stansby said: “Eve stands out for her resilience and determination: she is set on taking every opportunity offered to her and is a true role model, having become head girl. She is most valued for her friendly, compassionate, level-headed, decision-making and follow-through. Thank you, Eve, for all your hard work and dedication.”
Evelyn decided to spend her grant on a set of books for English and a student voice commemorative plaque.
Brunno Barbosa, 15, who attends The Appleton School in Benfleet, was recognised for his dedication to design and technology. He dedicated lots of time engineering his own screws for his project. He has gone above and beyond the requirements for the subject. Brunno has also been involved in multiple projects around the school recently, including working on a garden and completing charity work.
Brunno decided to spend his grant on resources that can help with a project that the DT club are currently undertaking.
Achievement Award winners include Joanna Edwards, 17, who attends The Sweyne Park School.
Joanna has been awarded the Achievement Award for raising £4,500 to fund a volunteering trip to Tanzania. She raised money by making, dyeing and selling candles, creating tote bags and selling them, holding a car boot sale to sell up-cycled items and collected donations from her surrounding community to sell. Furthermore, during her four weeks of volunteering, she painted classrooms and helped build the foundations for some new buildings at the school. Another part of her volunteering was performing regular group beach clean-ups and running group activities with local school children.
Award winner Joanna decided to spend her £300 Jack Petchey Achievement Award grant on CC-5000 Clinical Centrifuge.
Macey Smith, 16, who attends The Cornelius Vermuyden School & Arts College.
Macey has been awarded the Achievement Award for her dedication to volunteering. She has recently used her time to volunteer at a Ukraine support centre (Ukraine Donation club drop-in), where she has created support packages for Ukrainian families who have moved to Britain.
Macey decided to spend her £300 Jack Petchey Achievement Award grant on purchasing equipment to support a Ukrainian student who has joined the school and will now have an IPad to help him translate in lessons.
Councillor Martin Tucker, Mayor of Castle Point, said: “A wonderful, heart-warming occasion, rewarding young people that earned and deserved every bit of praise!”
Castle Point and Rochford have received funding of over £70,000 from the Jack Petchey Foundation since funding started.
Visit www.jackpetcheyfoundation.org.uk for more information.
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