The first ever Young Ealing Foundation Awards (YEF Awards) which celebrates and recognises young people (aged 11-25 years old) and the providers who help young people across Ealing and its seven towns took place on Thursday night (21 July 2022) with 10 awards being given out at a packed ceremony hosted at University of West London.
The winners, selected by Ealing Young Champions from the Young Ealing Foundation. were whittled down from strong shortlists in each category that showcased the commitment Ealing young people have shown towards their local communities as well as the providers who help enable young people to achieve their potential.
Award | Winner |
Overcoming Adversity Award | Dorothy Chan |
Positive Opportunities Award | Znaniye Foundation |
Green Champion Award | Sufiyan Abdul Qayum |
Mental Health and Well Being Award | Creating Mindfully Lockdown Life |
Youth Violence Intervention Award | YMCA Crime Diversion Project |
Volunteer of the Year Award | Rakiya Dahir |
Community Champion Award | Megan Fahy |
Youth Professional of the Year Award | Colin Brent |
Young Leader Award | Ryan Kennedy |
Young Volunteer of the Year Award | Yasmin Choukrallah, Amira Choukrallah, Kholoud Karboube (Bollo Brook) |
Local dignitaries were in attendance alongside Ealing councillors and Ealing MPs Rupa Huq and Virendra Sharma.
Speaking to EALING.NEWS on the eve of the awards, Tanya Taylor, head of communications and business development for Young Ealing Foundation said: “We feel it’s extremely important to come together and celebrate the amazing achievements of Ealing’s fantastic children and young people and the people that serve them.”
Tanya added: “Young people often don’t get the recognition they deserve and all too often the narrative around young people these days can be quite negative – we want these awards to challenge the narrative and shine a spotlight on just how brilliant children and young people are – and how they are achieving phenomenal things every single day, right here on our doorstep. Especially coming out of the pandemic, we feel that now, more than ever, young people deserve to be celebrated and acknowledged.”
The event proved to be a great success and organisers, Young Ealing Foundation, are already looking forward to a 2023 event.
Check out our photo gallery from the Young Ealing Foundation Awards