Teenagers across the area are to be honoured at the Nottinghamshire County Council 4Uth Awards at County Hall later this month.

The county council received a record 130 nominations for this year’s awards, which are organised in partnership with the Nottingham Post.

The awards recognise the outstanding achievements of young people across the county for a variety of reasons, such as outstanding achievement, caring for others, vital contributions within a local community and overcoming adversity.

Following nominations in the summer, district youth panels shortlisted three top nominees from which an overall district winner was selected. The overall county winner will be named at County Hall at the celebrations.

Coun Alan Rhodes, Nottinghamshire County Council leader, said: “We are extremely proud that the achievements of so many young people have been recognised as part of the 2015 4Uth awards.

“Every year we continue to be amazed by the inspirational stories of young people making a huge difference to those close to them and their local communities. To have received record nominations this year is very special.”

The county judging panel also included Matt Rooney, County Commissioner Nottinghamshire Scouts; Lisa Barker, chief executive of the Nottinghamshire Clubs for Young People; Counc Kay Cutts MBE, leader of the opposition at the council; Veronica Pickering, Deputy Lord-Lieutenant; Kate Royse – County Commissioner Girl Guiding; Coun Rhodes; and Coun Liz Plant, vice-chairman of the children and young people committee.

The winners included:
Ashfield: Sarah Clarke — Sarah is 18 and lives in Westbourne Road, Sutton. She was nominated by Emma Betteridge, a youth worker with the council’s youth service at Sutton Young People’s Centre, for her hard work in support of other young people and for her commitment to her responsibilities as a carer for her father.

Coun Plant said: “Sarah is an inspiration to many young people with her hard work and dedication to a variety of causes such as Mansfield Hospital’s Theatre Troupe, the District Youth Forum and the Sutton Young People’s Centre. Her apprenticeship has also been very rewarding and she can be proud to be named the Ashfield winner.”

Mansfield: Nathan Beckett — Nathan is 13 and lives in the Mansfield area. He was nominated by Maria De Rosa from the council’s Schools Swimming Service. Maria nominated Nathan, who is also known as Natty, because of the way he has progressed during swimming lessons despite the difficulties he has due to disability.

Coun Plant said: “Nathan’s award highlights his immense success and personal journey. It is clear from his inspiring story that he has had so much to contend with in life already at such a young age.”

Newark and Sherwood District: Jasia Byatt — Jasia has been nominated by Jodie
Hoggard, project co-ordinator at Third Star, a voluntary sector project based in Rainworth. Jasia has been nominated for her commitment as a volunteer worker at the Rainworth club while overcoming profound disabilities.

Coun Plant said: “Jasia has been undeterred by whatever challenge she has faced in her life and she makes an immense contribution to her youth club in Rainworth for so many young people and all involved in managing this group. Her inspiring story provides a superb example of a volunteer who does so much for the local area and it is wonderful that she has been recognised as the district winner for the 4Uth awards for Newark and Sherwood.”