AN amazing 96 young people from schools across Thurrock came together to receive prestigious Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Awards presented at the Civic Hall on Thursday 2nd March 2017.
The event honoured Achievement Award winners aged 11-25 who received medallions to go with their framed certificate and a cheque for £250 each, already presented. They were nominated by their peers and leaders, winning awards for a variety of achievements big and small but always for doing their best.
In addition nine adults were also celebrated with Leader Awards who have demonstrated, in an outstanding way, an ability to motivate young people. They received a medallion and a framed certificate.
Youth organisations and schools in Thurrock have received funding of £1,236,053 from the Jack Petchey Foundation since funding started in 2001.
The Mayor of Thurrock, Cllr Cathy Kent said “It has been a lovely evening seeing so many wonderful achievements. It is good to see so many young people overcoming obstacles and challenges and striving forward. This is a fantastic platform to provide them with the recognition they deserve.”
Winners included Emily Linscott, aged 14, a member of St Clere’s School. Emily only took up Karting in 2016, yet at the Brentwood Karting Academy she was invited to join following some phenomenal racing in their development school and she won her final. They were so impressed by her race craft, that they immediately invited her to join the Academy, which is arguably the toughest and most highly competitive academy in the UK. She has since been scouted by one of the big international racing teams in Formula 4, GP3 & GP2.
A day before the Jack Petchey Achievement Awards Emily was involved in a 100mph crash on a track! Thankfully she wasn’t seriously hurt and still managed to attend the awards!
Lillie Murrell, aged 12, attends the Hathaway Academy. Since joining the school, she has become a dedicated and essential part of the school choir and has performed in concerts. Lillie is also a member of the school’s Modulo Orchestra (a small instrumental ensemble) using her brilliant piano skills. She passed her first piano exam with flying colours. Lillie also represented the school on a trip in which many schools that are part of the Modulo programme came together to create a large orchestra in London.
Her school added she always works hard, helps others in class and is a real credit to the school thanks to her can-do attitude.
Leo Ayres, aged 12, goes to Gable Hall School. Since joining Gable Hall he has been playing the role of Tommy in the Royal Shakespeare Company production of Matilda, the musical at the Cambridge Theatre in London’s West End. Leo had to audition three times singing, dancing and acting in a studio in London against hundreds of other children to get the role. Rehearsals started in the summer and he spent the whole summer travelling in and out of London to them five days a week.
It was very hard learning all the songs and routines as well as taking stage direction, but he loved it all. The first show was on 1st October 2015, and since then he performed up to five times a week until September 2016. This meant he missed a lot of school but worked hard to make sure he kept up to date with all his school work. His ambition is to become an actor when he is older.
Jazmin Depree, aged 17, attends Palmers College. Having become a Student Representative on the Governing Body, Jazmin has striven to represent student views at every available forum without fail. She has taken her responsibilities extremely seriously and has been a key organiser of Student Executive activities including Sport Relief Day as a team leader.
Before becoming involved as a College Representative and Student Executive member she felt somewhat unhappy with her direction and was considering her future. She has now found new purpose and meaning to her College life and has developed greater maturity towards her studies as a consequence.
Brooke Collier, aged 12, goes to Hassenbrook Academy. Brooke has shown fantastic enthusiasm for a project creating a huge display of plastic poppies made from plastic bottle bottoms. This will be similar to the Tower of London display.
Sir Jack founded the Jack Petchey Foundation in 1999 to recognise the positive contributions young people make to society and to support them in achieving their potential. Since then it has provided support to a wide range of 2,000 initiatives supporting young people across London and Essex and has reached a milestone investing £100m.
Sir Jack Petchey CBE aged 91, said “I am passionate about our awards scheme which enables young people to be recognised, valued and rewarded for their achievements and positive contributions to society.”
