A number of young winners from previous years, sponsors and supporters including actor Joe Sims and the Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, gathered at City Hall to launch the Bristol Young Heroes Awards 2020. The launch event marks the beginning of a five week period in which school staff, youth workers, community groups and parents will be encouraged to nominate Bristol’s young people for one of the prestigious awards.
There are nine categories in which people can nominate young people, including for the first time this year, a new category of ‘Team Hero’, which aims to recognise the work done by organisations or groups who go above and beyond to support Bristol’s young people.
In addition to this, there is also the overall Hero award, chosen from the category winners, and the High Sheriff’s Award, which is given to an individual who has shown considerable dedication to the service of young people.
The Bristol Young Heroes Awards, which are now entering their seventh year, were originally set up by the Mayor of Bristol to help showcase and celebrate young people who have overcome adversity to achieve greatness or gone above and beyond to make a positive difference in their community. For the last three years, they have been run by Community of Purpose, a charitable organisation dedicated to raising the aspirations of young people across the city.
Amy Kington, CEO of Community of Purpose, said: “There really are no words to describe the impact of the Bristol Young Heroes Awards. It’s been my absolute pleasure to be involved over the last three years and watch the genuine joy, confidence and aspiration radiate from young people who would otherwise not have been recognised.
“These young people are a real credit to our city and fully deserve their time in the spotlight and the opportunities that come afterwards. Every year these awards get better and we are aiming for these to be the best ones yet, so make sure you get those nominations in!”
Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, said: “The young people that these awards recognise are an inspiration and a brilliant advertisement for the communities in our city. I urge everyone who knows any outstanding young people to nominate them and give them the chance to enjoy this celebration and well deserved recognition.”
One of the previous winners attending today’s awards launch was Catherine Rowe from Bedminster, who won the Environmental Hero Award in 2019, aged 15.
Catherine said: “The Bristol Young Heroes Award has had an absolutely massive effect on me as a person; it’s really helped to inspire me and given me the confidence to know that I can do great things. Since the awards, I’ve joined the city’s youth council and have had the opportunity to do some incredible work experience with GKN Aerospace.”
The young people that these awards recognise are an inspiration and a brilliant advertisement for the communities in our city. I urge everyone who knows any outstanding young people to nominate them and give them the chance to enjoy this celebration and well deserved recognition.
Nominations for the awards are open from now until Friday 13th December. A panel of judges will then decide on the winners ahead of the awards ceremony, which takes place at We The Curious on Friday 1st May.
All nominees are then invited to attend the gala evening, accompanied by two guests. To help them feel even more special for the evening, as well as recognising some of their individual difficult circumstances, Community of Purpose arranges for them to have a £100 budget towards a glamourous outfit for the evening or the cost of a hire suite, with hair and make-up done for free by local businesses.