Room for Young People Inspiration Awards: The Shortlist

The shortlist for the Room for Young People Inspiration Awards was announced! Each nomination was reviewed by InspireChilli’s Team Young People, and they worked hard to pick three per category from the fantastic applications received.

We were delighted to see so many nominations from members of The Foyer Federation network, with eight Foyers putting forward inspiring stories. Young people and staff from our network are shortlisted in five of six categories, with eight shortlisted nominations in total.

This year’s event, in partnership with InspireChilli, Livewest and Clarion Futures, focuses on celebrating the positive things young people have done during the pandemic. In true 2020 style, the awards will be hosted online on 3 November, where the winners will be announced. Congratulations to everyone who was nominated for an award, and to the people who have been shortlisted. Your resilience, community-mindedness and drive are an inspiration.

Community Action Award

1. A young person from Heather Court Foyer organised a Black Lives Matter protest for 3000 people under COVID restrictions and continues to advocate for positive change.
2. A self-taught programmer from Peabody Community Foundation started a project to help young people of colour to get ahead in tech.
3. A mum of five who founded Reach Up Youth to help young people in her community make positive choices and keep away from violence.

Staying Healthy and Creative Award

1. Bright Futures Magazine launched two publications during the pandemic to help young people stay engaged during lockdown and continue to explore important topics.
2. The Healthy Holidays project from The Youth Association distributed food parcels and held activity days to support families during the school holidays.
3. Reach Up Youth created a safe and healthy community for young people using sport to build relationships and keep young people away from violence.

Using Strengths and Talents Award

1. A young person from Newhaven Foyer (SAHA) showed personal resilience and made positive changes in his life during the pandemic, including facing up to dyslexia, building physical health and overcoming social anxiety to offer support to others.
2. A young person from Ravenhead Foyer (Your Housing Group) showed relentless determination to deal with the loss of her mother and grandmother, create a stable environment for herself and gain an apprenticeship.
3. A young person from Peabody Community Foundation drew on her adverse experiences with mental health services to advocate for herself and others, volunteering as a befriender and finding a job as a care co-ordinator.

Service Stars Award

1. A young person from Doncaster Foyer (SAHA) volunteered his time to support other young people with budget advice, WiFi access and collection of food donations during the pandemic, all with personal pressures due to his moving on from the Foyer.
2. A team member from LiveWest who helped four young people successfully move on during the pandemic, ensuring flats were available and ready at short notice and staying in touch after the move to make sure they were connected with the right services.
3. The founder of Herts School Outreach, who set up the service drawing on her experience of adversity to provide early intervention and resources to young people in need of mental health support.

Outstanding Practice Award

1. Braintree Foyer’s painting and decorating project responded to residents’ desire to help out during the pandemic, and has grown into a long-term project that enables young people to earn an AQA unit award.
2. A team member from Clarion Futures dedicated himself to the Roman Road Adventure Playground, ensuring that children would have a safe place to play and explore the world during the pandemic.
3. London Football Journeys from Peabody Community Foundation reimagined its football programme into online events so young people could engage remotely. The project was driven and shaped by young people, and 20 children gained Young Leaders qualifications.

Wild Card Award

1. The Saving Lives Award from Braintree Foyer encouraged young people to overcome lockdown’s challenges by acknowledging selfless acts that kept others safe.
2. The Bright Futures Young Mums Network created a safe, positive place for young mums to connect, get peer support and build confidence over the pandemic period.
3. A young person from Verve Place Foyer made positive changes to her life after finding out she was pregnant, quitting smoking and drinking and overcoming medical challenges before successfully moving on.

Find out more about Team Young People and their decision-making at InspireChilli’s website, and join us in wishing all the potential winners the very best of luck!