Jack Petchey Foundation recognises exceptional young person from Harlow during Covid-19 with award

THE Jack Petchey Foundation launched Jack Petchey’s Community Awards, an award scheme to recognise young people from London and Essex who are helping their community during the coronavirus outbreak. Members of the public are invited to nominate a young person they know via the Foundation’s website www.jackpetcheyfoundation.org.uk. Winners will be awarded £50 and a letter from Sir Jack Petchey in recognition of their community spirit.

Jack Petchey’s Community Awards will be awarded throughout the current lockdown situation to keep young people motivated and celebrate their contributions to society.

The twentieth winner is Alexandra Salmon, age 19, from Harlow.

Alex is qualified in Health and Social Care and has been working in a care home in Stansted Mountfichet.

Alongside this, she has taken a beauty qualification and has been using these skills to give the ladies in the home manicures and hand massages in addition to her usual care duties.

This time spent and connection made between Alex and the care home residents at a time when they are not able to have visitors has meant a great deal to the residents.

Lorraine Cox from Harlow College, who nominated Alex, told the Jack Petchey Foundation: “In these dark times, I am sure all the residents – as well as their families – are grateful to Alex, and I think it would be fantastic if she is celebrated within the college.”

Alex was awarded £50 from the Foundation and a letter from Sir Jack to congratulate her on going the extra mile to help others in this lockdown.

Trudy Kilcullen MBE, CEO of the Jack Petchey Foundation said: “At the Jack Petchey Foundation, young people inspire us all the time with the incredible work they do and that has not stopped in the current situation. We want to recognise more young people across London and Essex doing inspirational things to help their community and hope these Community Awards will motivate others and truly showcase the positive things young people do every day.”

Members of the public wishing to nominate a young person should simply visit www.jackpetcheyfoundation.org.uk/opportunities/jack-petcheys-community-nominations/ and fill out the form to submit their nomination including contact details and reason for nominating.

We will read every nomination that comes in. We want to highlight as many of the entries as we can, and will choose multiple winners each week to receive a £50 prize for themselves or their favourite charity.

A young person can be nominated for any actions they are doing to help vulnerable family members, the local area, school or youth group during the covid-19 situation as long as these abide by the government guidelines for social distancing.

These could include: delivering groceries to a vulnerable neighbour, creating content to inspire others (e.g. artwork, videos and blog posts), helping a youth group to adapt their work online, contacting local isolated people on the phone, and supporting a parent/friend keyworker.

The Jack Petchey Foundation has worked with schools and youth groups across Harlow since 2003 providing £1,183,665 in funding to schools and youth clubs in the local area.