A Newcastle College Foundation Learning student has received the Young Volunteer of the Year Award at the second annual Northern Leaders Trust Community Champion Awards 2024.
Held at Kenton School on Friday 28 June, these awards celebrate young individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, leadership and compassion in serving the Newcastle community.
17-year-old Josh Swan from Northumberland received the award for his work with not-for-profit community group “Calmer Therapy” in Northumberland. Josh spends eight hours a week volunteering to support young people with additional needs. The judges said: “He is confident, passionate and deserves recognition for his hard work making a difference to so many lives in his community.”
Josh – who has ADHD and ASD himself – was shocked when his name was called out at the ceremony. He said: “Winning the award was something I never thought I'd be able to do. Hearing my name called out was one of the highlights of my life. After so much dedication and helping children strive to be themselves based on how I was brought up, brought me to tears. I cannot thank everyone involved in this enough to help me fulfil a lifelong dream of being a role model to children who I know will look up to me and take something from the way I help them."
Along with his trophy, Josh received £150 in retail gift vouchers and an additional £50 in book tokens from Northern Leaders Trust.
Josh has just completed the first year of his Foundation Learning course at Newcastle College. His tutor Hayley McKeswick said: “Josh was in my tutor group this year and he was a valuable member of the group. He always shows consideration for his peers and is very supportive of them. He’s a real team player and I’m proud that he’s received this recognition.”
Lee Kirtley, CEO of Northern Leaders Trust who came up with the idea for the awards, said: “I am deeply moved by the remarkable contributions of Newcastle’s young people. Here at Northern Leaders Trust, we felt compelled to create a platform that acknowledges the kindness and generosity in our community, and we’re proud that the Community Champion Awards can play a key role for a second year.”