Fantastic awards evening for young unsung heroes
By Sarah Chapleo, student at Sixth Form College, Colchester
The Essex Police Young People of the Year awards threw a fantastic and heart-warming ceremony on the evening of the 6th of July at Stoke by Nayland Hotel. The event was one of almost 50 awards ceremonies by social enterprise ‘Young People of the Year’ or ‘YOPEY’ which was founded by Tony Gearing and aims to promote a better image surrounding young
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2011 Essex Police Young People of the Year - Leigh Army Cadets
Win £800 including £400 for Dave Squared Volunteering
When the young members of Leigh-on-Sea Army Cadet Force heard of the plight of an Essex teenager, taunted by others for having a disfigured hand, they went into battle to fight prejudice. They have changed the young girl’s life.
They mobilized to raise enough cash to send her to Paris to have a new prosthetic half-hand fitted but found out they needed THREE times that much to fit a whole hand!
The cadets
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Shared 2nd Place Winner - Zoe Lepine
Wins £200 including £100 for 2nd Tilbury Guides
Apart from archery, trampolining and weightlifting there aren’t many activities Girl Guide Zoe Lepine hasn’t had a go at.
Not bad considering the 16-year-old was left with a shortened left arm and limited mobility in her shoulder after being diagnosed with a bone condition soon after birth.
It has not stopped Zoe taking up many sports, and helping run three guide units across south Essex as well as being heavily involved with her school community. Despite her disability,
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Shared 2nd Place Winner - Hannah Liddell
Wins £200 including £100 for Catholic Action for Street Children, Ghana
A glitzy charity ball in Billericay, a celebrity guest, pots of money around the room, and at its centre teenager Hannah Liddell.
Hannah was just 16 when she organised the ball and raised a whopping £30,000 for the children’s hospice in Essex.
Hannah, now aged 18, continues to raise money for good causes and is aiming to top £10,000 this year for street kids in Africa.
But it is not just money. This summer Hannah – who
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Shared 2nd Place Winner - Rebecca Hathaway
Wins £200 including £100 for Victim Support
Head girl Rebecca Hathaway does not just keep an eye on pupils at her school – she reaches out to a range of people, from young vulnerable children upwards.
Seventeen-year-old Rebecca, from Rochford, was nominated by Greensward Academy in Hockley, near Southend.
“Rebecca’s communication skills are outstanding,” said the school. “She leads from the front and sets the standard for others to follow.”
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Joint Junior Winner - Cody Smart
Wins £100 including £50 for Katie's Ski Tracks
A gifted schoolboy has helped raise tens of thousands of pounds for charity by playing jazz piano music after discovering his mum had cancer.
Thirteen-year-old Cody Smart said he did not want other children to go through what he had when his mum fell dangerously ill. So he is determined to do all he can to raise money for further research into cancer, and for other good causes.
He has probably helped to raise over £100,000. He started playing at fetes but has also played
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Joint Junior Winner - Billy Fisher
Wins £100 including £50 for PARC Essex
Thirteen-year-old schoolboy Billy Fisher is more than just an elder brother to twins Joshua and Edward – he is also a young carer to Josh who is deaf and has cerebral palsy.
Billy, from Great Sampford, had been an only child for eight years when his twin brothers, now aged five, arrived. It was obviously very difficult for Billy to accept that the attention his parents showed him would now be divided.
Mum Amanda said: “At first it was hard for Billy having two new brothers to
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