We are delighted to announce that we have SIX incredible nominees through to the semi-finals of the Youth Matters Awards 2024!
There were over 100 nominations this year, making the selection process very challenging for the esteemed judges at YMCA England and Wales. We are so pleased to announce that we have nominees in four categories. In order for them to get to the finals, we need your votes.
Below is a summary of each of our Youth Matters Awards nominees. Click here to find out a little more about them and vote here. Voting ends on 26 August at midnight.
Young Achiever of the Year: Amanuel Mezgebe
Amanuel (he/him): Our resident Amanuel Mezgebe, a 20-year-old unaccompanied asylum-seeking young person from Ethiopia, has been nominated for Young Achiever of the Year. Amanuel embraces everything about YMCA. He’s known for being polite and calm and treats everyone like family. His close friends have said, “if you are his friend, you are friends for life”. He often takes part in events with YMCA and the wider community. He’s decorated emergency YMCA bedrooms, excelled in work experience and recently bravely started swimming lessons. He also recently graduated from a local leadership programme for displaced young people and has been working hard at college to pass his ESOL. Amanuel is an impeccable and humble young man who stays positive and keeps on trying no matter what challenges he faces.
Young Campaigner of the Year: Georgia Westbury
Georgia (she/her) – Our resident Georgia moved into YMCA DownsLink Group after a difficult period. At first she felt isolated and shy but quickly embraced staff support and threw herself into every opportunity. Georgia signed up to be a Resident Rep and works hard to champion positive, long-lasting change for all residents. She was also one of the first people to join the Youth Council and regularly meets with residents from other projects to discuss key issues and how they can be resolved. She has already helped create changes surrounding rent prices, guest policies, and offering more activities for young people. Georgia also met with the Board of Trustees to share the honest experiences of young people both before and during their time with us.
Vote here for Georgia
Young Campaigner of the Year: Millie Edwards
Millie (she/her) – As an ex-YMCA DownsLink Group resident, Millie saw the value in our ‘Love in a Box’ winter campaign and remembered just how much this meant to her when she was living alone, away from family, in supported accommodation. She campaigned around her local area collecting donations to fill and decorate 60 shoe boxes to give as Christmas presents to residents. Millie also raised funds for us by joining our sponsored skydive in May. Millie knows first-hand the feelings and emotional cost of ending up in supported accommodation and has chosen to help others going through this by using her free time to campaign for donations and gifts.
Young Leader for the Year: Nader Bahr and Tobi Roberts
Nader (he/him): Nader is a Sudanese unaccompanied asylum-seeking young person living in our supported accommodation. He continually has a positive impact on residents and staff; taking new residents under his wing, showing them around, accompanying them to appointments, cooking for them, and sharing whatever he has. Following the recent death of a beloved night worker “Basher”, Nader stood up and read his own heartfelt words at the memorial service. Nader is also always the first to put his name down for volunteering within the project, including decorating bedrooms and building a bike shelter for residents, and has completed two external volunteering placements. He is also a Resident Rep, a member of our Youth Council and a graduate of a Young Leaders programme run by a local organisation which saw him giving an inspiring speech at the graduation ceremony.
Young Leader for the Year: Nader Bahr and Tobi Roberts 
Tobi (they/them): Tobi has been an unwavering member of the WiSE Service since 2021. They are passionate about their work and the support they give to children, young people and their fellow colleagues. In their time with WiSE, Tobi has developed bespoke, whole team resources and coached their team in their use, as well as build their confidence to facilitate and deliver training to external partners. Tobi continues to support a culture of learning and development within the team. They are there for staff to debrief when they have had intense, harrowing sessions with children around sexual exploitation, they are non-judgemental and able to use their skills and knowledge to support staff. Staff feel heard and considered through this support.
Housing Project of the Year: Guildford Foyer
Guildford Foyer is a 32-bed property that looks after both care leavers and unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people. The team of staff not only provide accommodation but they also help residents through the difficulties of getting back into education, finding employment or volunteering opportunities, or helping with asylum applications. From putting things in place discreetly when a resident lost their eyesight, to supporting the whole building when a beloved member of staff passed away, the team at Guildford Foyer make residents feel valued and nurtured. The essence of what makes the team so strong is that they regard themselves as a family, and while that can be challenging, they pull together and help each other thrive. The team looks past any labels placed on residents by society and helps them flourish by seeing and hearing the individual for who they are and tailoring support to suit their needs.
“At the BBQ, there was a mix of easy and everyday chat (like why ‘Alexa’ can’t play modern Afghan pop music) to more serious discussions around future aspirations and friendships. The team fed ten residents (and one cheeky seagull who stole a hot baked potato off the BBQ – ouch!)
Champions and staff were invited to the 2024 Celebration Event in Hove, where each school and college had their hard work showcased through a Video Presentation. Around 85 Champions and 15 school staff took part in fun group activities, including designing a new School of Belonging and building their own Play-Doh wellbeing space, and each received a certificate and e-wellbeing goodie bag for their amazing work during the project. 
rm the lives of local young people.