HERE you can find all the photos and videos from this year’s Young Champions awards.
Since January, we have been searching for the best of Barnsley’s young people; anyone aged 21 and under who has stood out from the crowd and made a difference in one of 15 different categories.
Through the paper and online, people got in touch to make sure worthy candidates from across the borough had a chance at some recognition.
The winners have all now been announced. All the official photographs from the ceremony at the Holiday Inn can be found and ordered here. All the videos for each category and all the winners can be found below.
Young Fundraiser - the nominees were:
Luke GraingerJessica HempshallJoshua Maloney
Winner: Luke Grainger
Luke is a student at Wombwell’s Real Music Centre and part of the RMC Theatre Company there. Using his theatrical contacts, he has helped organise several flash mobs in Sheffield and Barnsley to raise money for Weston Park Cancer Hospital. The 19-year-old also volunteers helping in musical direction and arrangement and leading rehearsals.
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Young Apprentice - the nominees were:
Thanat MeesriLauren HillamTommy Mansell
Winner: Tommy Mansell
Tommy, 17, helped create student newspaper The Grapevine and double the number of stalls at the college’s My Markets initative since he joined the Enterprise Department as an apprentice.
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Young Carer - the nominees were:
Stevie OrridgeChloe YoungMacy Stocks
Winner: Stevie Orridge
Stevie helped care for her mum, who sufered with COPD, until her death in 2016. She still helps care for her younger brother Lucas, who suffers from Cerebral Palsy, and her older sister and guardian Terri Hirst’s young children. Alongside all this, the 14-year-old volunteers for Barnardos supporting other young carers.
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Young Community Hero - the nominees were:
Charlotte HollingworthRebecca ConstableBrandon Green
Winner: Charlotte Hollingworth
Sixteen-year-old Charlotte spends her time working with and volunteering for the scouts and created award-winning colouring book Colour Barnsley to help promote the town as part of the I Know I Can challenge.
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Young Sportsperson - the nominees were:
Billy Wilson FrenchJordan BarnettMorgan Emi Jones
Winner: Billy Wilson French
14-year-old Billy has six British titles in ice skating. He has qualified for the GB development squad for the past two years in both free skating and ice dance. And his talent saw him chosen to perform with Disney On Ice at Sheffield Arena in December. His ultimate dream is to make it to the Olympics.
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Young Musician - the nominees were:
Alice JohnsonEllen AucklandBrandon Ward
Winner: Ellen Auckland
Ellen has been part of the Barnsley Jazz Association since she was ten. The 20-year-old is now proficient with trumpet, piano and trombone and has even set up her own smaller offshoot of the larger main band, to encourage younger members to feel comfortable playing before joining the bigger group.
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Young Team of the Year (Sport) - the nominees were:
Barnsley Sports Academy Female First TeamBarnsley LeadersLacewood Primary
Winner: Lacewood Primary
The school football team earned a place at the northern finals of the EFL kids cup, representing Barnsley FC after winning two tournaments at Oakwell Stadium.
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Young Team of the Year (Community) - the nominees were:
Upperwood Primary AcademyCharlie, Harry-James, Joe and Lisa NicholsonJD Juniors
Winner: JD Juniors
Football team J D Juniors Under Tens is run by Jason Dingle. The team finds success on the pitch but has also been praised for its effect on the community too. The boys have been described as a ‘band of brothers’ and their professionalism has been praised on and off the pitch.
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Young Team of the Year (Entertainment) - the nominees were:
Barnsley Percussion EnsembleBarnsley College Electric Theatre StudentsTake 2 Theatre School
Winner: Take 2 Theatre School
A cast made up of entirely under 16s and including Britain’s Got Talent alumni Kyle Tomlinson staged classic musical Les Miserables to commercial and critical success at Birdwell’s Academy Theatre, where the group is also based.
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Student of the Year - the nominees were:
Jack NunnVictoria SimpsonCharlie Steeples
Winner: Charlie Steeples
12-year-old Charlie visited Parliament after putting together an impressive project promoting the benefits of nuclear power. He is also a regular Outwood Academy Shafton’s science club.
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Young Adventurer - the nominees were:
Emily SwabyMegann OakleyHenry Mann
Winner: Henry Mann
Henry, ten, suffers from cystic fibrosis but he does not allow the life-limiting disease to stop him from attending Penistone Scout group. He balances daily physio with outdoor pursuits and is a very popular member.
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Young Volunteer - the nominees were:
Joshua ShelleyWil TrashHannah Carnell
Winner: Wil Trash
15-year-old Wil attends Lisa Thornley’s School of Dance on Stocks Lane. He only took up dancing just over a year ago but since then has bagged a place at the national Dance Master competition, and volunteers his time helping out Lisa teaching classes and younger pupils.
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Young Entrepreneur - the nominees were:
All Saints Academy DarfieldBarnsley AcademyJen Hammonds
Winner: All Saints Academy Darfield
A team from the Darfield school were the overall winners at the St Mary’s Academy Trust and Louder Than Life enterprise challenge. They had a budget of £5,000 to design a musical instrument station to be used by a group of children, and came in at
£4,200.
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Young Conqueror (Triumph Over Adversity) - the nominees were:
Louis ShakespeareShannon ShawAalish Naylor
Winner: Aalish Naylor
Eight-year-old Aalish was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in December 2015 and underwent gruelling treatments. Her parents have been told Aalish’s chances of survival are slim, but both they and Aalish are determined to live life as fully and as best as they can. Her resilience is inspiring and has even seen her return to school.
