Royston Youth Action
1838. Sharon Kelly
Sharon Kelly, from Glasgow, runs ‘Royston Youth Action’, an organisation which has provided hundreds of young people and children living in deprived areas in the city with access to social, educational, recreational and volunteering opportunities.
Sharon and her team develop the programmes and services in direct response to the needs of the community and young people, which has included offering youth clubs, day trips, art, drama and music sessions, workshops on equality, drugs and alcohol, as well as volunteering opportunities with local charities to get young people active within the community. Over 1,000 children and young people have participated in the organisation’s dedicated summer programme, with Sharon providing additional support during school holidays, such as free haircuts and meals, to families in need.
In a personal letter to Sharon, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
“I was inspired to hear about your brilliant work at ‘Royston Youth Action’ to support young people in Glasgow, helping them to stay connected, healthy and active, especially during the school holidays.
“With your army of volunteers and plethora of activities, you have helped thousands of children explore art classes, day trips, educational workshops and volunteering opportunities.”
Anne McLaughlin, Sharon’s local MP for Glasgow North East, said:
“Sharon is a true champion for the young people of Royston and the city is lucky to have such a dedicated individual who devotes their efforts to ensuring that every possible opportunity is afforded to these young people. The work that Royston Youth Action and all their volunteers do is nothing short of amazing and I offer my congratulations and appreciation to Sharon and her team.”
Sharon said:
“Myself and the full team at ‘Royston Youth Action’ are delighted to have been chosen to win this prestigious award. It is an honour to be recognised for our work within our community. We all truly love what we do and are continuously thinking up new and innovative ideas of how better to support our children, young people and their families. We thank everyone for their continued support and also the kind person who nominated us for this award.”