Last week we welcomed over 300 people to NE Youth’s Impact Awards Ceremony 2025 at the Grand Hotel Gosforth Park. The awards celebrate and recognise the achievements and talents of our member organisations, including their young people, staff and volunteers.
It’s the young people that really make this event special. The night kicked off with an energetic performance by MK Diamonds Cheerleaders. Then we were in the safe hands of our charismatic young hosts Penny, Arthur and Lucy of PAC (Peer Action Collective) who guided us through the celebrations like true pros. Between award presentations young people took to the stage to provide entertainment for the guests. Jack McQuillan’s musical theatre renditions from Cabaret and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, sparkled with star quality and wowed the audience. Within the opening bars of their first song The Room 14 DofE band had the dancefloor filled with people dancing and singing along.
As for the awards themselves, a big congratulations go out to all the nominees, you are all making such a positive difference to your communities! This left our independent judging panel with some tough decisions, the winners are…
Social Action of the Year – sponsored by Pale Fountain
Winner: Respect and Relate (Foundation of Light)
Youth Worker of the Year – sponsored by David Gray Solicitors
Winner: Thomas Stoneman (Stepney Bank Stables)
Sport, Leisure & Culture of the Year
Winner: Stepney Bank Stables
Volunteer of the Year – sponsored by Point North
Winner: Christine Nicholson (Creative Youth Opportunities)
Young Volunteer of the Year – sponsored by Point North
Winner: Jannah Rahman Rehman (Projects 4 Change)
Going Green – sponsored by Clearly Drinks
Winner: Building Self-Belief CIO – Benfieldside Community Garden
Community Champion of the Year – sponsored by B7
Winner: Sally McGee (Action Foundation)
The Nigel Voules Keystone Award – In recognition of voluntary service
President’s Award 50+ years: Foster Burt (Buffalo Community Centre)
Trustee of the Year – sponsored by Grand Hotel Gosforth Park
Winner: Dr Hugo Minney (Building Self-Belief CIO)
Partnership of the Year – sponsored by RW Mann Trust
Winner: Headliners UK and The Activity Den – NE Roots ‘ The Last Miner’
Diversity Champion of the Year – sponsored by University of Sunderland
Winner: Cheesy Waffles Ambassadors
Young Achiever of the Year – sponsored by Gateshead College
Winner: Abbas Baleelam (Action Foundation Young Lives)
Most Improved of the Year
Winner: Action Foundation Young Lives
Project of the Year
Winner: Sacriston Youth Project
Thank you to everyone who joined us on the night and helped make this year’s awards a success! We look forward to you giving us more reasons to celebrate next year!
