The official list for the Celebrating Young People Awards 2019 was announced in London’s West End on the 3 July. Nominations has been gathered from schools, parishes and organisations across England and Wales. The awards, powered by Million Minutes, honour the achievements of those young people who make our communities and our world a better place. Their achievements are a witness to all of us of the dedication that young people have to make a difference.
Young people were nominated in six categories, each celebrating a different aspect of Catholic social teaching lived out in action. The CYMFed Inspiring Youth Leader and the overall Pope Francis Award, presented by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, were also named during the evenings celebrations.
The nominations recounted examples of ordinary young people with extraordinary commitment. We heard of young people taking the initiative to find new ways to serve those around them, alongside others who tirelessly and without complaint get on with the challenging situations they find themselves in - often resulting in the most inspiring examples of social action. There were mental health champions, youth safety ambassadors, eco warriors, volunteers, and campaigners, to name just a few.
The Award list is as follows:
Pope Francis Award: Overall Youth Award
Hannah Forrest – Stella Maris, Apostleship of the Sea (Award Recipient)
St Josephine Bakhita Award: Celebrating human dignity
Caitlin Howell-Williams – St Mary Help of Christians, Holyhead (Award Recipient)
Christy Downer – New Hall School, Chelmsford (Award Recipient)
Faith Richardson – St John Fisher RC High School, Wigan (Award Recipient)
Joseph Cardijn Award: Protecting the dignity of workers
St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School (Award Recipient)
Daisy Alston-Horne – Prior Park College (Award Recipient)
Jimmy Mizen Award: Promoting solidarity and peace
International Pupil Council Members – St Mary Queen of Martyrs Voluntary Academy, Hull (Award Recipient)
Shanea Oldham – St Bonaventures, Forest Gate (Award Recipient)
Ellie Heyes – St John Rigby Sixth Form College, Lancashire (Award Recipient)
Barbara Ward Award: Caring for the environment
Saint John Bosco College Young Gardeners (Award Recipient)
Tom Allan – St Marys School Menston (Award Recipient)
Annalia Rathoor – Blessed Robert Widmerpool Catholic Academy (Award Recipient)
Dorothy Day Award: Fostering community and participation
Samuel Wilson – St John Fisher Catholic Voluntary Academy, Dewsbury (Award Recipient)
Ashton Baker – Abbey Catholic Primary School (Award Recipient)
Jehnut Bari – St Angela`s Ursuline School, Forest Gate (Award Recipient)
Cardinal Hume Award: Living out the option for the poor
Anthony Crich – St Bede`s Catholic Comprehensive School and Byron (Award Recipient)
Caritas Team – St John Vianney SEN School (Award Recipient)
Harry Wale – St John Rigby Sixth Form College (Award Recipient)
CYMFed Award: Inspiring Youth Leader
Dawn Wilkinson – St Edwards Parish, Lees (Award Recipient)
Award recipients’ stories can be viewed here
This year’s panellists also decided to recognise several nominations in each categories as 'Highly Commended':
St Josephine Bakhita Award: Celebrating human dignity
Sam Tyrer – All Hallows Catholic High School, Preston (Highly Commended)
Declan McEntree – The Barlow RC High School, Manchester (Highly Commended)
Emma Murray – HCPT The Pilgrimage Trust (Highly Commended)
Lucy Forshaw – Loreto College, Manchester (Highly Commended)
Joseph Cardijn Award: Protecting the dignity of workers
Nick and Chris-Courtyard Wood Green (Highly Commended)
Ben Sinclair – St Thomas of Canterbury (Highly Commended)
Jimmy Mizen Award: Promoting solidarity and peace
Dominika Lasota – Stonyhurst College, Hurst (Highly Commended)
Amelia Manning – Prior Park College, Bath (Highly Commended)
Holy land Travel Group – Step into the Gap, CAFOD (Highly Commended)
Barbara Ward Award: Caring for the environment
Guardian Angels Impact Group- Young Christian Workers (Highly Commended)
One World Group – St Wilfred’s Catholic School (Highly Commended)
Selena Okonwo – All Saints Catholic School, Dagenham (Highly Commended)
Dorothy Day Award: Fostering community and participation
Molly Christie – St Thomas of Canterbury RC Church (Highly Commended)
Justice and Peace Youth Group – Bishop Eton Monastery Redemptorists (Highly Commended)
Streetspace Boys Group – Frontier Youth Trust (Highly Commended)
Priscilla Casey - Townley Grammar School for Girls (Highly Commended)
Cardinal Hume Award: Living out the option for the poor
Megan Holmes – All Hallows Catholic High School, Preston (Highly Commended)
Eliza Street – Our Lady and All Saints Parish (Highly Commended)
Sophia Hampson – The Barlow RC High School (Highly Commended)
Award recipients’ stories can be viewed here
Read the highly commended stories here
View pictures from the night here