Celebrating Community Support: YMCA Sutton Coldfield Stands as Finalist for Youth Matters Awards

YMCA Sutton Coldfield, an esteemed organisation dedicated to empowering and nurturing the young people of Sutton Coldfield and across Birmingham, is delighted to share the news of its selection as a finalist in 3 categories at the prestigious Youth Matters Awards.

“The heartwarming show of support from our community has brought us to this point, and we extend our sincerest gratitude to everyone who participated in the public vote.” Said Rachel Dutta Choudhury, Business Development Manager.

Having been a semi finalist in 4 categories YMCA Sutton Coldfield is overjoyed to announce they are finalists in the Young Worker of the Year, Housing Project of the Year and Diversity Award categories. The spotlight now shines on these exceptional initiatives that have profoundly impacted our beloved community. These nominations signify YMCA Sutton Coldfield's unwavering commitment to creating positive change, fostering growth, and enhancing the lives of young individuals.

Young Worker of the Year Finalist: Tim Beesley
Tim Beesley, Young Worker of the Year nominee said; “Giving young people the chance to be young people, supporting them in their day to day lives and watching them make positive progress in the hurdles they face is what makes youth work so rewarding for me.”

Housing Project of the Year Finalist: Resident Engagement - Building Independent Living Skills
Parveen Akhtar, Housing Service Manager said; “It’s a great honour to be nominated for the Housing Project of the Year. This recognises and celebrates the work and commitment our team has had over the past 12 months to providing individualised support to all of our residents on their journey towards independence”

Diversity Award Finalist: AlleyKats Drama Group
Sam Kelly, Disability Service Co-ordinator said; “What a great opportunity for Alleykats to be nominated for this award- we are all so proud of the dedication and commitment they bring to rehearsals and performances. The joy and smiles when performing just shows how much Alleykats deserve to be recognised for this award!”

Reflecting on this remarkable journey, Joy Scott-Thompson, CEO expressed, "Our strength emanates from the unity within our community. Today, we humbly stand as a testament to what we can achieve when we come together to uplift our youth."

"Our journey continues as we urge our community to rally behind us once more in their thoughts as we head to the Awards night later this year. Each vote echoed not only as a vote of confidence in YMCA Sutton Coldfield but as an endorsement of our youth work, our support for young carers, for homeless and disabled people. Together, our impact resonates louder, and we can extend our reach to touch the lives of countless more young people in need."

The Youth Matters Awards stand as a pinnacle of recognition, celebrating the achievements of young individuals, volunteers, and initiatives across England and Wales. These awards acknowledge their resilience, inspiration, and unwavering dedication to igniting transformative change.

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