We are delighted to announce that we were shortlisted for two awards at UKFast’s Community Education Awards, which took place Wednesday 11th July.
Not only were two of our Young Leaders shortlisted for ‘Young Volunteer of the Year’, our Junior Choices Programme was awarded Community Project of the Year.
Our Junior Choices Programme, heavily funded by the Rank Foundation, is a ten week preventative programme designed to build up the resilience of young people at risk of criminal exploitation. The course consists of four weeks of one-to-one sessions and six weeks of small activity sessions with project staff. There is a strong focus on building key relationships and setting manageable goals.
Danny Percival, Serious Organised Crime Prevention Worker at Manchester Youth Zone, adds “it’s such a fantastic achievement for the Youth Zone as it shows the work we do is being recognised across the community. We raise the aspirations of our young people and help them to build and develop positive relationships, and make positive life choices”.
Also at the awards, Young Leaders Jake Lindley and Jak Stocks were both nominated for ‘Young Volunteer of the Year’.
Jak and Jake both joined Manchester Youth Zone as Junior Members when our doors first opened back in 2012. Now aged 15, they have both completed the Young Leaders course and volunteer on Junior sessions (working with 8-12 year olds) at the Youth Zone three times a week.
Sarah Errey, Sports and Social Action Worker at Manchester Youth Zone, says “it’s such a great achievement for Jake and Jak to be recognised for the work they do here at the Youth Zone. They are two hard working, dedicated individuals and we are so proud of them and the impact they make on other young people”.