New Youth On Board Awards winners announced: 3 outstanding projects and organisations recognised in the latest round of the British Youth Council’s Youth on Board (YOB) Awards – which celebrate innovative youth participation projects from organisations and individuals around the UK.
Hampshire Community Court, AIESEC UK and a Epping Forest District youth councillor, Jaymey McIvor, were all awarded in our new round of YOB Awards.
A group of young people from Hamphire Community Court were awarded a ‘Making a Difference’ Award, for their youth-led ‘Peer Court’ based in the communities of Fareham and Gosport in Hampshire. Staffed by youth volunteers but overseen by the police, for suitable crimes, the programme uses youth-led decision making processes and restorative approaches to show other young people the harms of their offending; and in support of the victim and community how that harm can be repaired. The youth volunteers carry out roles such as Community and Victim Advocates, Respondent Advocates, Ushers or members of the Peer Panel or they help facilitate restorative justice conferences.
PC Mark Walsh, Community Court Officer, said: “I am delighted that the Community Court project has been recognised by the BYC by being awarded the Inspiring Project Award. What makes this award even more special is that it has been decided by other young people. There can be no greater validation of hard work, passion and determination when it has been recognised by your peers, and so I know this award will be well received by our team of dedicated youth volunteers”.
Eloise Peabody-Rolf, a member of the Hampshire Community Court Peer Panel, said: “I am so proud of what the Community Court has achieved so far, and that we have been recognised with this award by the BYC! Being involved in Community Court has given me an insight into many different aspects of criminal justice and has really helped me grow in confidence and experience. I perform roles in the Community Court that I never thought I would be able to do!, and find them so rewarding – to be able to give someone the opportunity of a second chance, but also to explain and reflect on their actions, which can have a huge impact on their future.”
Above: Chante Joseph presenting Hampshire Community Court with their YOB Award at the British Youth Council’s Convention in London on Saturday 6th June 2015.
Chante Joseph, Vice Chair of Particpation and Development at The British Youth Council said: “AIESEC UK, Hampshire Community Court and Jaymey McIvor are all extremely deserving of a YOB Award. All three are great examples of the social action that’s taking place up and down the country in so many different spaces.”
AIESEC UK, a student-led organisation and a global platform for young people to explore and develop their leadership potential, were awarded the ‘Youth-Led’ Award for the team of 8 young people aged 22-25, responsible for the organisational management and strategic direction of the entity on a daily basis. Although their volunteering programmes aim to tackle global, national and local issues with various social and educational projects, our focus is on the development of the individual through their leadership development model.
Liza Degtarienko, at AIESEC UK said: “We are thrilled and humbled to receive the Youth Led Award as part of the British Youth Councils 2015 Youth on Board Awards. We promise to continue to develop more Responsible Global Leaders in the UK as a youth-led, youth-run organisation to have a positive impact on society.”
Our last award went to Jaymey McIvor, a youth councillor who is considered an inspiration to the community and his peers. Jaymey has run 2 successful Youth Council election campaigns and is currently serving his 4th year as an elected Youth Councillor for Epping Forest District. He is also an elected member of the Young Essex Assembly and a member of the UK Youth Parliament. Jaymey is passionate about giving young people a voice and his attendance at and involvement in discussions at local community meetings such as the Neighbourhood Action Panels and the Police and Crime Commissioner meetings is an excellent illustration of this. He is determined to make a difference not just in his community but for young people and children in need and hardship globally.
Di Butler, Youth Engagement Officer, Epping Forest District Council said: “I am delighted to hear that Jaymeys nomination was successful, it will be a great honour for him and Epping Forest District Council who nominated him for this award. Jaymey is 17 years old and is an inspiration to the community and his peers. Jaymey is currently serving his 4thyear as an Elected Youth Councillor for Epping Forest District. The Youth Council is a group of 21 democratically elected young people aged between 13 and 19 years from all parts of the Epping Forest District. The Youth Councillors represents 11 secondary schools in and around the Epping Forest District. They meet regularly to discuss issues concerning young people and invite key speakers to the meetings to keep up to date with changes that will affect them. They attend consultations to actively contribute to the decision making process, feedback about their concerns to those who have the resources and ability to address change, and encourage the service providers to take action and address the issues.”
Youth on Board awards are made every quarter. Find out the 2015 deadline dates for nominations and how to apply here.
Award Winners
Make A Difference Award
- Jaymey McIvor, Member of Youth Parliament for Epping Forest
Youth-Led Award
- AIESEC UK
Inspiring Project Award
- Hamphire Community Court
