The successes, achievements and outstanding contributions made by Newham’s young people were recognised and celebrated at the eleventh Shining Through awards.

The nominees represent just a fraction of the talented, creative and hard-working young people that make the borough proud. The awards were presented during ceremonies for under-11s and 11 to 19-year-olds at the Old Town Hall in Stratford. Awards were sponsored by Tate & Lyle and Stratford Picturehouse.

The under-11s were treated to a party where two winners from 27 primary schools received a certificate, rosette and goody bag. Winners were nominated by the schools themselves. Later, individual winners in the over-11 category received an ipod while groups got �200 in vouchers to spend. Categories included personal achievement, excellence in learning, citizenship, community, creativity in the arts, get active, young apprentice, safer Newham and a Young Mayor’s award. Among those presenting awards were Cllr Quintin Peppiatt, executive member for children and young people, and Deputy Mayor Cllr Andrew Baikie. The Recorder supports the awards.

Cllr Peppiatt said: “The Shining Through awards are a great opportunity to honour and celebrate children and young people who are achieving great things in all areas of life.

“More than 200 nominations were received from a wide range of schools, organisations and individuals. The range of their achievements is truly impressive and it’s important that we celebrate their success.”

Young Mayor Ali Mohamed said: “Young people do good work across our borough every day, often in the face of many challenges. It is important to recognise those efforts.”

The over-11 winners were: Personal Achievement: Winner Yusuf Sheylila; Runners-up Luke Brookes and Munashe Kunaka; Excellence in Learning: Winner Tommy Seagull; Runners-up Daniel Law and Sawsan Therese; On The Right Track: Winner Aromire Afolabi; Runners-up Dennis Jerner and Zygimantas Volosinas; Young Apprentice: Winner Nicole Whitthread; Runners-up Brooke O’Callaghan and Zeenat Ali.

Get Active: Winner Alex Savin; Runners-up Patrick Reilly and Grace Jenkins; Group Winner The Imps Motorcycle Display Team; Runners-up Newham Cornwell VC Sea Cadets, Jamport and Sum Sum; Safer Newham: Winner Sahanur Ahmed; Group Winner Rokeby Student Leadership Project; Runners-up Kingsford School Council Safe Guarding for Pupils Group and Rokeby School Travel Plan Group;

Creativity in the Arts: Winner James Anderson; Runners-up Troy Rochester and Andre Wallace; Group Winner Langdon’s Rivers of the World project; Runners-up Kingsford Musicians and Newham Academy of Music Academy Singers; Citizenship Award: Winner Truce 2020; Runners-up Sixth Sense and Young People’s Board; Community Award: Winner Hudson’s Youth Project; Runners-up Change 4 Me and Eastlea Organics; Young Mayor’s Award: Winner Monisha Kazi; Runners-up Kishan Patel and Nkemjika Blessing Patrick-Ogbu; The under -11 winners came from Calverton, Carpenters, Colegrave, Dersingham, Drew, Elmhurst, Essex, Godwin, John F Kennedy, Kaizen, Keir Hardie, Kensington, Maryland, Nelson, New City, Rosetta, Sandringham, Selwyn, Southern Road, St Edward’s, St James, St Joachim’s, St Stephen’s, Tollgate, Upton Cross, William Davies and Winsor schools. Further details of the awards can be found on the council’s website at www.newham.gov.uk