Champion in the Community

Jul 13 2008 by Pauline Holt, Sunday Sun

THERE were whoops of delight as young people from Teesside’s Just 4 Youth project were announced as Champions in the Community.

The Middlesbrough-based group were the first winners of the night to take a prize. Chief executive of the organisation, Jan Sinclair, said she was, “tremendously proud of them”.

She said: “I’ve watched some of these young adults grow up and they come from an area that has its fair share of social problems. These kids have developed and are proving an example to lots of other young people.”

Just 4 Youth grew out of the national Young Advisers Programme, awarded to West Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Trust — WMNT — in 2005.

WMNT was one of only four organisations selected to take part in a national pilot. Through the project, young people aged between 15 and 21 get involved with the decision-making processes of organisations like the police, local council and other statutory bodies, helping them to “youth proof” their policies and make any written materials more accessible.

The project also aims to develop skills and opportunities for young people and to raise their aspirations. For example, they have produced a DVD for young people about mental health issues and also helped other young people get into the jobs market.

Presenting the award, David Brind from sponsors Barclays paid tribute to the group saying they had done something unusual and were taking the community by the hand.

Laura Wright, 23, Sam Davy, 19, Lisa Harvey 20, Nicole High, 22, Stephanie Pederson, 19, and Michael Robson, 18, were all thrilled to get the award. Sam said: “We’re just over the moon. It’s really nice and we’re all really proud. We’ll probably celebrate with a meal out for the team using our prize money.”

Just 4 Youth co-ordinators Abigail Fields and Kevin France were also present to enjoy the evening.

Kevin said: “It’s a great reward for the hard work they have put in. It shows the positive work young people can do and the lengths they can go if they are given the opportunity to do things for themselves.”

Runners-up in the Champion in the Community section were Dorothy Bowman from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, who in the past she has transformed both a derelict pub and a London bus into youth centres and runs an outreach centre from a single deckers and Olwyn Peters from Eston, Teesside, who has chaired activities at Whale Hill Community Centre for six years.