Four Young People’s Awards events were held across the county during National Youth Work Week to celebrate and recognise the resilience and determination of 163 Hertfordshire young people. The events highlighted the positive impact that Services for Young People (SfYP) Youth Workers and Advisers have in enabling young people to overcome challenges and make significant improvements in their personal and social development.
SfYP Youth Workers also visited schools and colleges across Hertfordshire during the week, delivering assemblies and lunchtime information sessions to raise awareness of the support available to students.
The Watford, Three Rivers and Hertsmere Young People’s Awards, Thursday 7 November
Pictured with some of the young people are Cllr Nigel Bell, Cllr Asif Khan, Cllr Paula Hiscocks, Cllr Caroline Clapper, Cllr Tim Williams and Kips Green, SfYP Area Service Manager
Cllr Caroline Clapper, Executive Member, Education, Libraries and Lifelong Learning, presented awards at the Watford, Three Rivers and Hertsmere event which was held at Watford Young People’s Centre.
She said: "Congratulations to all the remarkable young people who won an award this year. It has been an honour to hear about the amazing progress they have made and the barriers they have overcome with the support of our Services for Young People Youth Workers and Advisers. Their achievements are truly inspiring. I wish them all the best as they move towards adulthood, equipped with the confidence and life-skills they have developed."
Cllr Paula Hiscocks, Deputy Executive Member, Children, Young People and Families, who also presented awards at the event, said: “It is wonderful to share in the successes of our young people due to the dedication and support they receive from SfYP… Congratulations to all the young people who have worked so hard to achieve their awards.”
Zoe was one of the 39 young people from this area to receive an award. She was nominated for the remarkable growth in independence, confidence and resilience she has shown over the last term. She has diligently worked towards achieving her personal and educational goals.
Katie Fineman, SfYP Senior Youth Worker (Hertsmere), Zoe (14) and Kips Green, SfYP Area Service Manager
Through discussions with a Youth Worker, Zoe has become more reflective about her choices and behaviour, demonstrating increased self-awareness, which is guiding her along a positive path. She is becoming a strong and independent young person and has developed many independent living skills, particularly cooking, at the youth work projects she attends. Now at a new school, she is focused on her studies to improve her future prospects. Zoe is also a thoughtful and caring individual. She consistently supports her friends, offering helpful advice when they face challenges. Her growth in leadership and communication skills further highlights her personal development.
Zoe said: "The support I received from the SfYP Youth Workers has supported me to make good choices, where previously I wouldn’t. I have also learnt to cook more healthy foods which has increased my independence. Receiving this Young People's Award has made me feel really happy.”
Feedback from other award winners
Aimee said: “What a lovely event! I am so honoured to have been invited and feel privileged to have received an award. I am grateful for the help and support I have received from Services for Young People. Thank you to everyone who has been there for me.”
Tanish said: “The awards night was fantastic! It was great seeing so many people like me being celebrated for their dedication, abilities, talents and the challenges they overcame.”
Feedback from parents
“Great to see their achievements and growth recognised. Massive thank you to all the Youth Workers for all their help and advice.”
“Beautiful night [for the young people], feeling like stars and going onto future greatness. Very very good vibe and felt genuinely touched to be here.”
The Broxbourne, East Herts and Welwyn Hatfield Young People’s Awards, Thursday 7 November
Pictured with some of the young people are: Cllr Mark Mills-Bishop, Cllr Peter Hebden and Cllr Steve Wortley
The Broxbourne, East Herts and Welwyn Hatfield ceremony took place at Hertford Regional College in Broxbourne, and the awards were presented to the young people by Deputy Executive Member for Education, Libraries and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Mark Mills-Bishop.
He said: “The 2024 Young People’s Awards demonstrate again the amazing achievements of young people, overcoming challenges in their own lives and giving to the lives of others and their own communities. It was a privilege once again to attend this event and see the pride on the faces of young people, families and carers as they received their awards. A big thank you to Services for Young People for a wonderful evening and the work delivered week in and week out in helping the young people of Hertfordshire be safe, be included, be healthy, be happy, be independent, be ambitious and be resilient. Well done to all!”
Darcy was one of 32 award winners in this area. She was nominated for her award by her Youth Worker in recognition of the exceptional progress she made while attending an SfYP emotional wellbeing youth work project.
Darcy (16) being presented with her award by Cllr Mark Mills-Bishop
Darcy learnt, and effectively put into practice, techniques and strategies to help her manage and overcome personal challenges. This had a positive impact on her self-confidence, resilience and mental health. As a parent to her six-month-old daughter, Darcey also worked with Youth Workers to create a healthy routine, balancing childcare, revision, and her own wellbeing, which helped her achieve her goal of successfully completing her GCSEs. She is now studying for her A-Levels and in the future would like to complete a degree to work in Law.
Darcy said: “The Youth Workers provided me with support throughout my traumatic year. They built up my confidence and self-esteem, giving me a good sense of wellbeing. I feel proud of myself for achieving this award.”
The North Herts and Stevenage Young People’s Awards, Monday 4 November
Cllr Fiona Hill, who attended the Stevenage and North Herts event at the Bowes Lyon Young People’s Centre in Stevenage, said: “I was delighted to attend the Young People’s Awards evening and as always it was wonderful to see the achievements of the young people and the confidence they have quite clearly gained since working with Services for Young People. The hard work and resilience of all the winners is an inspiration to us all and they should be very proud of themselves.”
Our featured award winner from this area is Surender, a refugee from Afghanistan.
Surender (17) receiving her award from Laura Butcher, Youth Work Practice Manager in the SfYP Stevenage and North Herts Team
Surender was uncertain of what to expect when arriving in the UK and was anxious about her future. With the support of her SfYP Adviser she worked extremely hard to build her confidence and became a volunteer at her local Sikh Gurdwara (temple) and enrolled on an ESOL course to improve her English. She bravely explored the range of options opened to her and has now started studying IT at North Herts College, pushing herself out of her comfort zone to take up this opportunity of full-time education that she was not able to access in her native country.
Her Adviser said: "Surender always has a positive, hard-working mindset, embracing every opportunity for self-development, overcoming barriers and putting every effort into everything she does.”
Surender said: “Working with my Adviser has built my confidence. With all support given it has given me the chance to go to college. I am so happy to receive this award as I have never been able to achieve an award before. This is a big boost for me, and I now feel more confident to face barriers.”
Feedback from another award winner
Amelia said: “I wouldn’t have come as far as I’ve come or be where I am now if it wasn’t for SfYP, youth projects and youth council – thank you to all the staff who have supported me.”
Feedback from a parent
“I attended the awards ceremony this evening… and I just wanted to say how impressed I was with the event. It was so well organised and so professional. The venue looked amazing and we were all made to feel really special. Thanks so much for putting on this event and celebrating young people in Stevenage. Well done to all involved.”
The St Albans and Dacorum Young People’s Awards, Thursday 7 November
Pictured with an award winner are Cllr Richard Roberts, Leader of Hertfordshire County Council; Hero Slinn, Director of Inclusion and Skills at Hertfordshire County Council; Karen Haswell, SfYP Area Service Manager; Cllr Terry Douris, Chairman of Hertfordshire County Council; Cllr Jan Maddern and Cllr Paul De Kort
The event for the St Albans and Dacorum area took place at Hemel Hempstead Young People’s Centre.
Cllr Terry Douris, Chairman of Hertfordshire County Council, presented four DofE participants with their Bronze Award certificates and badges. He said: “I was humbled to be at the event and forever amazed at the achievements of young people in the face of challenges. Every challenge is an opportunity and these young people have lived up to that. I wish them every success in the future.”
Hero Slinn, Director of Inclusion and Skills at Hertfordshire County Council, said: "Such an amazing evening with so many young people who have overcome adversity and challenges in their lives to achieve such great outcomes. It was particularly impressive to hear of how our young people act as ambassadors for others via the SfYP youth councils. Special mention to the young people from the Dacorum Creative Spark SEND youth work project who volunteered to facilitate the evening under the inspirational leadership of Karen Haswell, SfYP Service Manager for St Albans and Dacorum.”
Charlotte was one of 57 young people to be presented with an award at the St Albans and Dacorum event.
Hero Slinn, Director of Inclusion and Skills at Hertfordshire County Council; Charlotte (18); and Cllr Richard Roberts, Leader of Hertfordshire County Council
When Charlotte was 13 she was unexpectedly diagnosed with a brain tumour and immediately had to undergo emergency surgery. She was in hospital for 2 weeks and subsequently had to overcome many personal challenges, including learning to walk, talk and write again. Despite all these challenges, she has shown great perseverance and successfully took her GCSE exams in Year 11.
SfYP practitioners supported Charlotte to boost her resilience and identify skills for her CV. With their support she had the confidence to approach Stagecoach where she has been successful in securing a part time job working with young people as an Early Stages Assistant. Charlotte continues to demonstrate strength and determination to achieve.
Charlotte said: “This has made it all worth it. To be appreciated. My Adviser was amazing and helped me find my passion and what I want to do, and she helped me get a job.”
The SfYP Young People’s Awards categories
More about National Youth Work Week
Find out about all the ways SfYP supports young people here: Support for young people
