Amazing young people who have achieved incredible things have been celebrated at a special awards ceremony.
Inspirational stories of immense courage, great dedication and amazing talent abounded at the 2015 Bernard Matthews Youth Awards, in association with the Eastern Daily Press.
Now in the their seventh year, the awards last night once again highlighted some truly exceptional young people from Norfolk and Suffolk in categories ranging from sport to bravery to food and farming.
Young performers from The Garage also impressed with a vibrant mix of entertainment performed throughout the ceremony.
Dani Harmer, star of the CBBC Tracy Beaker programmes and who competed in the 2012 series of Strictly Come Dancing, co-hosted the event at Open, in Norwich, with BBC presenter David Whiteley.
About the winners and finalists, she said: 'They are all so amazing and inspiring. I think what they have all achieved is absolutely brilliant.
'I love awards like this. It's really important for these amazing young people to get the recognition and encouragement they deserve.'
Awards were presented to young people for sport, community, bravery, education, charity, arts, food and farming, and each category winner received a £1,000 prize to help them further their dreams and ambitions.
Ben Collingwood, 16, from Bradwell, near Great Yarmouth, was named the Bernard Matthews Young Person of the Year after also winning the sport award for being a truly ace inspiration on the tennis court and using his passion for tennis to encourage more people to get involved in the sport.
The hero award, for an adult who is seen an absolute star in the eyes of young people, was presented to Nikki Scott, who founded the charity Scotty's Little Soldiers to support bereaved children who have lost a parent who was serving in the British Armed Forces. Andrew Sherwood, HR director at Bernard Matthews, said: 'The Bernard Matthews Youth Awards are in their seventh year and still we continue to be astounded by the positive impact young people are having on the community.
'Last night we celebrated and drew attention to the talents and accomplishments of young people throughout Norfolk and Suffolk. As always we have been both inspired and humbled and it is an honour to meet and celebrate with the finalists and winners of this year's awards.'
For more about the Bernard Matthews Youth Awards visit www.bmyouthawards.com and follow @BMYouthAwards on Twitter.
THE 2015 BERNARD MATTHEWS YOUTH AWARDS WINNERS:
SPORT AND BERNARD MATTHEWS YOUNG PERSON OF THE YEAR
Ben Collingwood, 16, from Bradwell, near Great Yarmouth, was named Bernard Matthews Young Person of Year after also winning the sport award for his achievements in inspiring people of all ages to take up tennis.
Ben, an Easton and Otley College student, has been passionate about playing tennis since he was four years old and set up his own coaching business, Ben Collingwood Tennis, to encourage more people to pick up a racquet. About winning the two awards, he said: 'It's a real honour and very unexpected because there were some strong people up for the awards. The awards are really helping lots of people and inspiring others too. It is going to really help me to push myself forward. It's telling me that I am going in the right direction and to keep going with the coaching.'
More than 60 adults and children receive tennis coaching from Ben. He plans to use his £1,000 prize to build on his coaching business and create more opportunities in tennis for people.
Also shortlisted for sport:
Livvy Rowe, 17, from Cringleford, for her dedication to sprint and marathon flat water kayaking and representing Great Britain.
Nell Doubledee, 13, from Ipswich, for not letting her sight impairment stop her from achieving great things in athletics.
COMMUNITY, SUPPORTED BY THE EDP AND VOTED FOR ONLINE BY THE PUBLIC
Harley Britcher, 17, from Norwich, won the community award for being an amazing ambassador for Open in Norwich.
He volunteers to help run school holiday workshops at Open and acts as a mentor for the young people taking part. He has also helped develop short films to promote Open and the activities that take place there.
Also shortlisted:
Layla Calaby, 18, from Clenchwarton, for helping disabled teenagers join groups and clubs and take part in activities they may not have the confidence to do by themselves.
Young mentors from Gorleston-based Children's Coach, for running programmes to inspire and support young people and organising fundraising events for numerous good causes.
BRAVERY Mattie Sexton, a 13-year-old Norwich School pupil, was presented with the bravery award for showing great courage when faced with having major brain surgery.
Mattie was diagnosed with epilepsy just before his third birthday, a condition which caused him to have seizures that became progressively worse as he got older, and he very bravely made the extremely scary decision to have brain surgery to help stop the seizures.
Also shortlisted:
Jessica Spooner, 16, from Calthorpe, for coping with anxiety issues and helping to develop Aylsham High School's restorative justice team.
EDUCATION
Benjamin Britten High School Eco Group, in Lowestoft, won the education award for dedication to raising awareness of environmental issues and making the school more environmentally friendly.
The group inspired the installation of a biomass boiler and solar panels and has created a 'solar garden'.
Also shortlisted: Christopher Vear, 19, from Necton, for being a truly inspirational pupil at Dereham Sixth Form College and volunteering at Fred Nicholson School.
Beccles Free School RoboCup Team, for being runners-up in an international computer coding competition in China.
CHARITY
Sammy Woods, 18, from Hellesdon, won the charity award for making a huge contribution to the youth panel of Nelson's Journey, a charity which helped her after the death of her grandmother. A founding member of the panel, Sammy was an outstanding young volunteer with Nelson's Journey for three years.
Also shortlisted:
Ellen Jane Parfitt, 18, from Wreningham, for raising funds for various charities and organising events for Deaf Awareness Week.
Branie Basted, 15, from Norwich, for fundraising for several charities and being an Age UK Norwich befriender.
ARTS
Debbie Castro-Kerridge and Caity Adkins, both 14, from Diss, were given the arts award for their huge enthusiasm for painting and organising an art exhibition to raise funds for the refurbishment of Diss Corn Hall. The exhibition celebrated Diss Heritage Triangle and nature, and also gave young photographers an opportunity to exhibit work.
Also shortlisted:
Sophie Catherall, 13, from Ipswich, for excellence in playing the oboe.
Rebecca Ball, 18, a Thorpe St Andrew School and Sixth Form pupil, for achievements in fashion, including a show promoting young designers.
FOOD AND FARMING
Farm to Fork, at Cromer Academy, won the food and farming award for highlighting the importance of sustainable farming and fishing practices, and its work with local food suppliers and producers. Projects have included being involved in Cromer and Sheringham Crab and Lobster Festival, holding a dinner in aid of Cromer RNLI, and planning to develop an allotment area.
Also shortlisted:
Angela Li, 14, from Wymondham, for leading YUM Fest: Foods around the World which raised funds for Norwich Foodbank.
Let's Eat, at Open in Norwich, for highlighting the nutritional and financial benefits of home cooking.
HERO
Nikki Scott, founder of King's Lynn-based charity Scotty's Little Soldiers, was presented with the hero award for her work to support bereaved children who have lost a parent who was serving in the British Armed Forces. The mother-of-two started Scotty's Little Soldiers after her husband, Corporal Lee Scott, was killed in Afghanistan. The charity now helps more than 200 children. She was nominated by Sam Ruddlesdin, 12, from King's Lynn.
Also shortlisted:
Pat Howe, a youth team volunteer at Nansa in Norwich, for making a huge difference to the lives of young people with disabilities.
Ben Burt, from Open Youth Trust in Norwich, for always keeping young people's voices at the heart of Open.
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