Awards joy for '˜selfless' Leeds and Yorkshire youngsters

Presented by special guest, TV actress Lucy-Jo Hudson, at Leeds College of Music, the award was given to a total of 75 inspirational young achievers.

One of the winners, Emily Warrilow, 15, from Whitcliffe Mount School in Cleckheaton, dedicated her award to the murdered MP, Jo Cox, who supported Emily’s campaign - for which she won this award - to demolish a derelict building in her area.

Emily said about Jo: “I knew Jo Cox really well, she helped me with everything. In September, when I go back to school, I want to do an inspirational womens event for Jo because she was my role model”.

The Diana Award was established in 1999 and is presented to young people who have contributed something special to society.

As well as Emily, there were a variety of other winners including Matthew Vasey, 13, who raised over £2,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support, having lost his father to the dreadful illness, and Junior Frood, 12, who raised almost £300,000 for charities across the UK and even performed a dance routine at the ceremony.

Rebecca Parkin, 18, who won the award for her campaign against bullying, told the YEP that she has had positive feedback from other victims of bullying.

She said: “People have been saying: ‘where you shared your story, it has actually helped me to get through my bullying’ and because I have autism as well, it inspires them to know that if they have autism they can achieve great things”.

Tessy Ojo, who is the Chief Executive of the Diana Award, spoke about the event: “Today is about celebrating young people who have shown compassion, young people who have been selfless in their communities. This is about Diana’s legacy.”