The ceremony was preceded by a curry and entertainment from 16-year-old magician, Conor. Youthscape’s Alex Drew gave the keynote address, emphasising the essential need for youth workers and arguing that youth workers have the most important job in the world, before Youthscape’s deputy CEO Martin Saunders and 18-year-old Ellis Jones took over hosted the ceremony.
Volunteer of the Year:
Sponsored by: CPAS Ventures
Barbara Cole, Pendle Youth Fellowship Barbara Cole has been a volunteer youth worker in Pendle, Lancashire for 30 years, seeing many young people come to Christ. She joked about the fact that she had been there so long that young people who were in her youth group were now bringing their own children back to join her group!
Most Innovative Youth Work:
Sponsored by: Moorlands College
Level One, Stirling Baptist Church
Launched in January 2014, Level One has become a community hub, where broken young people turn for support.
Unsung Hero of the Year:
Sponsored by: Existence Ltd
Ben Cordy, Leeds Youth Cell Network
Popular among church leaders and youth workers in Leeds, Ben Cordy co-ordinates groups and organisations across numerous denominations and knows every young person on their books. When accepting the award, he championed youth workers who took time out to invest in him when he was younger, expressing what an honour it is for him to now be doing the same.
Best Youth Work Resource:
Sponsored by: Premier Youthwork
Because You’re Loved, Pais Project
Because You’re Loved provides a card, which should be handed to a stranger, accompanied by an anonymous good deed. It encourages young people to share the love of Jesus in a creative way, using their own ideas.
Best Youth Work Employer:
Sponsored by: London School of Theology
Urban Saints
Combining a fun, creative atmosphere with training and support, Urban Saints hold a daily prayer time and make the spiritual welfare of their employees a priority. Evidence of Urban Saints working closely with other organisations was proved by the fact that they had worked alongside both of the other nominees in their category: South West Youth Ministries and Phase, Hitchin.
Young Leader of the Year:
Sponsored by: The Methodist Church
Cat Sisman, Esther Lodge
This year, a new award was added, specifically commending young Christians with significant influence on those around them. Both finalists won the award, accepting it with humility and a sense of unity and camaraderie. One of the winners, Esther Lodge told
Premier Youthwork: ‘I’m really surprised because, talking to Cat, she did such a great job with the links to the Children’s Hospital. I’m really happy that we are both able to share the award. Sometimes I doubt myself and to receive the award, to be recognised on this level is quite overwhelming and it’s going to spur me on I’m going to definitely continue to volunteer my time.’
Youth Worker of the Year:
Sponsored by: CYM
Lee Kirkby, St Michael le Belfrey in York
Lee Kirkby was described as someone who radiates Jesus and is an inspiration to young people. On receiving the award, he commended his ‘amazing team,’ calling them his best friends. He told Premier Youthwork: ‘It’s obviously a big thank you from those that appreciate what I do, what I represent, the team and all the youth work resources at church. It’s quite affirming that I’m doing the right thing.’ He spoke about the importance of someone spending time with him as a young person: ‘I ended up going into youth work because someone really invested in me. Now I’ve got to this stage of winning this award, it’s made me realise that I could have the same impact on someone else’s life. I want to keep on investing in people, no matter how small that may be – we know that acorns grow into great oak trees.’