The Rotary's Wolverhampton Young Citizen Awards.

Express & Star

Rotarians and Wulfrunians celebrated the youth of Wolverhampton at a special awards ceremony at Wolverhampton University.

Transcript

00:00Half a dozen of the judges with mouths open, chins on the desks, wow.

00:12They're doing what? Wow.

00:15And I think you'll see when the citations are read, that we introduce the finalists, which is what you're here for, so I'll get on with it.

00:27As well as raising money for charity, Sierra volunteers with the British Modern Karate Association,

00:34mentoring children through staff and defence, and has also helped to organise a STEM club at school.

00:42She has organised litter picking campaigns in her local community,

00:46and also represents young people as an elected member of the Youth Parliament in the city.

00:54She's attended a residential in the Gambia, helping to reduce children's poverty,

01:00supports the elderly through her work as a volunteer on a telephone helpline,

01:06is a dementia friend, donates children's books to the haven,

01:11and gives generously of her time to supporting others at the Sikh Gurdwara.

01:18I'd like to advise other young people who are experiencing challenges in their lives.

01:24Thank you. I'd say that there are challenges in life, and life can be very challenging,

01:32but there's always opportunities, there's always a way around things, there's always a support network,

01:38that's something that I heavily relied on, and making the decision that I had to make,

01:43I've had my leg amputated at 17, 18, it was a very difficult decision,

01:48but having the people around me, and having the network that was around me,

01:52made that decision easier to get through, so I'd say there are challenges in life, that's part of life,

01:59but I think using a support network, and looking at what opportunities are out there,

02:04and trying to get around it, is a good piece of advice.

02:09Go for it, when you're ready.

02:12We're here with the three winners, congratulations everyone.

02:18So, just going on from left to right we'll go, just how does it feel to win?

02:24It feels kind of not real, as I was watching the citations of all the other finalists,

02:32I was honestly amazed by everyone, every single candidate that was on the stage was amazing,

02:38so to be selected as the winner is, I'm so grateful,

02:42and I guess I just want to say thank you for even considering me.

02:53It feels amazing to win, to be Young Citizen of the Year,

02:57when they're reading out those citations there is some brilliant work that's gone on in the city,

03:01and some brilliant young people here tonight at the Young Citizen of the Year award,

03:05so to be in that category first of all was an amazing honour,

03:09and then to go ahead and win it was a huge honour,

03:12so it feels amazing to be able to win it, and just thank you to the Roadtrip Club,

03:16to the people of Wolverhampton, and to Young Citizen of the Year for a brilliant night,

03:20and for continuing to showcase the amazing work of young people.

03:25I'm absolutely shocked, I don't think it's settled in yet,

03:28I was amazed when I got nominated, and then when I got selected as a finalist,

03:32and now I actually won, but I believe everyone has something to win for,

03:36and we're all winners because everyone has amazing work, and I'm so grateful, so thank you.

03:50I think it was absolutely fantastic,

03:52all these young children, they're all winners in my eyes,

03:55it's not just about the actual winners, it's about all of them,

03:59and all the stories, isn't it?

04:01They've got some amazing stories, brought tears to our eyes,

04:06it was really difficult for us to sort out, but we did in the end, didn't we?

04:12So obviously you see and you hear inspirational stories,

04:15and you see inspirational people like that with young people,

04:18how does it make you feel for the future of war crime?

04:22It's very positive, I mean, unfortunately the press sell bad stories, don't they?

04:31Really.

04:32But there are so many good stories to tell, like these young people,

04:37and as well as these young people, remember, they're just the ones we selected,

04:43there are lots more who were nominated, and lots who weren't nominated,

04:48who are doing, making a big difference to the city, for the better.

04:53We should celebrate it.

04:57So you've taken the reins, so to speak?

05:03Roger feels that after ten years, he's said to the committee that he feels like

05:08he wants to step back and just take a little bit of a back seat,

05:12and he's earned it, as I gave that football analogy in Remain,

05:17but for me it's a bit like taking Alma from Fergie at Man U or Benga at Arsenal,

05:25because he's left an absolute wonderful legacy,

05:29with how he's led the committee, and he's led from the front.

05:35It's certainly going to be impossible to emulate, Roger,

05:40I'll just have to do it in my own way, and I'm sure that I'll get,

05:46the big thing is getting back into what we have, Roger will agree, I'm sure.

05:51We've just had some wonderful, wonderful members on the committee,

05:56and that's been the secret, you know.

05:59If you talk about football management, it's easier to manage if you've got great players in your team,

06:05and we've got a fantastic committee, and I'm sure that we'll be fine.

06:45I'd like to advise other young people who are experiencing challenges in their lives.

06:53Thank you. I'd say that there are challenges in life,

06:57and life can be very challenging, but there's always opportunities,

07:02there's always a way around things, there's always a support network,

07:05that's something that I heavily relied on, and making the decisions that I had to make,

07:10and having my leg amputated at 17, 18, was a very difficult decision,

07:15but having the people around me, and having the network that was around me,

07:19made that decision easier to get through, so I'd say there are challenges in life,

07:25that's part of life, but I think using a support network,

07:28and looking at what opportunities are out there, and trying to get around it,

07:32is a good piece of advice.

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