Even bishops are blown away by YOPEYs in cathedral

By Matt Calladine and Rachael Everett

Sixth-form students at Ely College

This year’s YOPEYs at Ely Cathedral showcased the very best of young people and their commitment to aiding the community and speaking to them showed that their passion flowed deeply.

We first spotted an anxious looking David Ayeni, from Cambridge, who was in the final for promoting a green agenda. David has just moved on to university in Nottingham and has already joined a number of societies in order continue

Joint Winner Mohammed Atiq Nazir wins £600 – £400 for StepUp charity and £200 for himself

As a child Mohammed Atiq Nazir (pronounced A-teak Naz-ear) was deeply affected after one of his older brothers was involved in a murder. Eleven years on Atiq, as he is known, has turned his life around and is now trying to keep others on the straight and narrow.

Ten days after ‘9-11' a white teenage boy was murdered in Peterborough by a gang of young Asians. Three men, including one of Atiq's older brothers, were jailed for life.

Atiq's family received hate

Joint Winner Katie Godfrey wins £600 – £400 Classrooms for Baraka and £200 for herself

Volunteering to work in African schools during her gap year was not enough for Katie Godfrey.

She came back to the UK, raised money and has paid to build two classrooms, with more in the pipeline.

After leaving Long Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge, Katie went out to Kenya in September 2010.

She helped at Baraka primary school in a rural village about three hours' drive from the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.

The school has over 1,000 pupils aged 6 to 14.

Third Place Michaela Miller wins £200 – £100 for Cambridge Regional College's Students' Union and £100 for herself

Michaela Miller improved the welfare of thousands of fellow students while also caring for her family.

The 21-year-old single mum cared for her daughter, mum and younger sisters while studying in a bid to get a university place.

At the same time she also worked to improve the health and welfare of 5000 students at Cambridge Regional College.

The college described Michaela as an exceptional young woman.

As activities and entertainments

Junior Winner Helen Foster wins £100 for Cancer Research UK and £100 for herself

Helen Foster got the bug for helping charities when she was aged only six and did skipping to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. Since then she has gone on to lead several events of her own and plans to do more.

So far she has raised very nearly £1,400 from her own events, and she is only 15!

Helen was put forward by her school, Sawtry Community College, for the great efforts she makes on behalf of others, often for people she doesn't know.

From the age of six Helen