MORE than 200 people attended the first ever Young Ealing Foundation Awards at the University of West London last night (21).

Young people, youth workers, MPs and even TikTok stars The Gregorian Sisters were among the guests.

Ten awards were presented:

Community Champion (yp)

Megan Fahy – Catalyst Housing Group

Green Champion (yp)

Sufiyan Abdul Qayum – Clean Air for Southall and Hayes

Overcoming Adversity Award (yp)

Dorothy Chan

Young Leader Award (yp)

Ryan Kennedy - YMCA

Young Volunteer of the Year (yp)

Yasmin Choukrallah, Amira Choukrallah, Kholoud Karboube – Bollo Brook Youth Centre

Positive Opportunities Award (p)

Znaniye Foundation's Ealing Saturday Club

Violence Intervention Award (p)

YMCA and John Lyon's Charity’s Crime Diversion Project

Mental Health and Wellbeing Award (p)

WAPPY’s Creating Mindfully Lockdown Life

Volunteer of the Year (p)

Rakiya Dahir - HSNEA

Youth Professional of the Year (p)

Colin Brent – Bollo Brook Youth Centre

Yp= young person, p= youth provider

Elly Heaton Virgo, CEO of the Young Ealing Foundation said: “The last few years have been incredibly tough for our sector.

“Poverty levels are rising. Those who are systemically and continuously discriminated against face growing issues and cuts from central government mean we face a constant battle to deliver more and more desperately-needed services with less and less money.”

Rupa Huq MP for Ealing Central and Acton, said: “What a brilliant evening. The Oscars have nothing on this because this is 100% Ealing.”

www.youngealingfoundation.org.uk