The countdown to the Examiner Community Awards 2015 has begun! A panel of judges will choose a winner in each of the 14 categories.
The awards will be held at the John Smith’s Stadium on Wednesday, June 3, hosted by ITN newsreader Nina Hossain and between now and then we'll be profiling all the nominees by category.
Today we start with the Student Community Award featuring young people aged 18 or under who have done such wonderful work in their communities.
The University of Huddersfield is proud to sponsor the Student Community Award to recognise the efforts of students in schools and colleges who voluntarily help others in the community.
The award aims to celebrate the commitment of our local school pupils, to highlight the good work they do and celebrate the positive impact this has on the Huddersfield community. The award is open to all local school pupils between the ages of 15 and 18.
Here are the three nominated youngsters who have made the shortlist:
Hamzah Nazir
Hamzah Nazir is one very special teenager.
The list of his achievements is endless – but top of it is the immense respect in which he his held by his peers and teachers alike.
For no matter what life throws at him he has proved he is more than always up to the challenge and has done around 1,000 hours of voluntary work over the last four years in several roles.
As the first Head Boy of Moor End Academy in 2013-2014 Hamzah made the role his own, showing phenomenal leadership for the school and putting in at least 500 hours voluntary work to promote Moor End in every way he could from being a host at parents evenings and doing exceptional anti-bullying and mentoring work to helping charity fundraising events including a highly successful food bank collection.
He set up a sports presentation evening – his love of sport saw him umpiring school matches, scoring cricket matches and coaching the U13 team along with his local cricket club, Paddock. He has led sports activities at Thornton Lodge community centre, volunteered in his local Islamic book shop and is in his first year of a BTEC Diploma in Sports Development and Coaching at Huddersfield New College. He wants to be a secondary school teacher and is doing voluntary experience as a support assistant at Moor End but a serious knee cruciate ligament injury has cast doubt on that dream.
Hamzah, of Thornton Lodge, is also a massive support in the family home, especially when his mum, Akhtari, who is immobile and suffers from diabetes, had a baby, Rehan, six months ago. Hamzah does most of the housework – shopping, cooking and cleaning up. One of four brothers, Hamzah’s younger brother, Umair, 12, has severe learning difficulties and Hamzah has always helps with his work.
Debra Awty from Moor End said: “Hamzah has such a special quality with his peers. He leads by example and encourages others to be respectful.”
One pupil said: “He sure has the confidence to be a great leader. The first head boy of Moor End and I think the best there will ever be.”
Lauren Brown
She is a dedicated volunteer, air cadet and football coach.
And somehow Holmfirth’s Lauren Brown fits it all in around a 30 hour a week job and studying law, sport and drama at Huddersfield New College.
It is no surprise that 18-year-old Lauren says that she has “no time to sleep.”
It would be hard to catch Lauren at home as she spends most of her time outside work and studying as a member of Huddersfield 59 Squadron of the Air Cadets and a football coach and manager who promotes women’s football at Lepton Highlanders.
She got involved with the squadron back in 2012 as a way to learn new skills and help her community.
She quickly worked her way up the ranks to become a sergeant, giving the corporals guidance and support, and currently takes part in a wide range of competitive sports for her squadron team such as hockey, netball and swimming.
Not only that, she gives up some of her weekend to volunteer through the squadron at community shows and fairs and has already passed nine Air Cadet exams.
Lauren dedicates nights and her Sunday mornings to coaching the under 14s female team at the Lepton Highlanders and supporting them on match days.
She said: “I have no time to sleep but I just love being a part of both clubs.
“Through them I’ve learned some great leadership skills and I’m able to help the community and encourage girls to get involved with football.”
She hopes to eventually take up a job in the army.
She was nominated by Student Engagement Manager at New College Lee Speight, who said: “Lauren has been an active and influential part of her community.”
Levi Hardy
Levi Hardy has been a welcome face at Hollybank Trust for as long as he can remember.
A dedicated volunteer, 16-year-old Levi has been helping adults who live at the centre for people with learning disabilities in Mirfield and is now a valued enrichment team helper on the trust’s weekly outing to Otley Sailing Club.
Levi, of Bradley, gives up each Monday to accompany residents and their carers to the lake and helps them to set sail on boats on the water.
During the day he also receives training which will enable him to become a driver for the boats that give the trust residents so much pleasure.
He does it all inbetween his studies for a BTEC Level 3 in IT at Huddersfield New College and working as a first aider for St John’s Ambulance Service on match days at Huddersfield Town Football Club.
Levi said: “I got involved with the Hollybank Trust when I was little because my mum works there.
“I used to go over and have a cup of tea with the residents and then started to help with other things, such as in the interactive sensory room and was pleased when I was able to start to volunteer for them at the sailing club last year.
“It’s just great to see their happy facial expressions – it doesn’t just give me a sense of enjoyment but achievement too.
“I plan to work in IT but I can see myself always volunteering with the Hollybank Trust.”
Huddersfield New College student engagement manager Lee Speight, who nominated Levi, said: “He has had to negotiate missing some timetabled sessions and attending extra ones in his own time but despite this he is an outstanding student and his volunteering demonstrates his selfless attitude and contribution to the community.”
Coming tomorrow... Friend of the Year
