Selby & Goole Community Pride Awards 2014

Current Selby High School student Garrett Norwood-Cole and former student Alysia Hanshaw have both received Community Pride Awards. The dazzling ceremony held at, and hosted by Drax Sports & Social Club on Thursday 6 November, was presented by BBC Look North’s Clare Frisby to an audience of around 170 guests made up of the finalists together with friends and family, sponsors and local councillors and dignitaries from Selby and Goole. An uplifting and inspirational evening and a fitting tribute to the region’s unsung heroes and those that work behind the scenes to improve our local communities.

Among the 14 awards this year were five special kids’ categories including Young Citizen of the Year and Bright Star, and eight community awards including Volunteer of the Year, Champion Citizen and new category, Parent of the Year. Each award recognised the exceptional achievement and extraordinary contribution of local people to their community.

Garrett received the Young Citizen of the Year award. Alongside his studies at Selby High School he is part of the student council that raises issues and discussion around school services and facilities, personal learning and the environment. During half-term last week he spent two days helping set up a forum to represent young people from across the region.

Since being elected as a deputy Member of the UK Youth Parliament for Selby and wider North Yorkshire this year, Garrett is busy making sure the voice of 11 to 18-year-olds is heard through meetings with local politicians and working hard to re-establish the Selby Youth Council.

He is also secretary of the North Yorkshire Youth Council, his duties include an active role in the Make Your Mark campaign to identify the key issues that will be debated by MYPs in the House of Commons next week. This will be chaired by The Speaker and broadcast live on BBC Parliament.

Next year he’s sure to be taking a close interest the General Election, but Garrett has his own campaign to think about too as he seeks votes to become a full Member of the UK Youth Parliament.

Bright Star award winner and talented soprano singer Alysia exceeded all expectations this year when she not only won a scholarship to study voice at the UK’s largest and most prestigious music school, Chetham’s in Manchester, but also achieved a staggering 7 A-star grades and 3 A-grades in her GSCEs.

Alysia started singing at primary school and has never looked back, performing over recent years with Leeds Youth Opera, Opera North, Yorkshire Youth Choir and at Selby Abbey.

This year, as well as devoting every spare minute to reaching the high musical standard in piano and voice that was required to gain entrance to such a prestigious school, Alysia had to juggle the rigorous audition process with revising for and sitting her GCSEs.

Selby High School teacher Carl Cousins said that to achieve this scholarship alongside such amazing academic results shows her undoubted talent, enthusiasm and dedication.

Her mother, Jane, says Alysia is not only a talented girl but very hard working and a lovely person. “I am utterly proud of her”, she said.

For more information about the Selby & Goole Community Awards please visit their website:

http://www.selbyandgoolecommunitypride.co.uk