Your UK Parliament Award winners announced!
4 April 2019 (updated on 5 April 2019)
The Your UK Parliament Awards were launched to celebrate the work of people all over the UK who make a difference in their communities and beyond.
2019 marks the second year of the Your UK Parliament awards. The winning entries were chosen by the Speaker of the House of Commons, and a judging panel of MPs, Peers and independent judges. All of the winners attended an awards ceremony hosted by the Speaker in the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday 2 April 2019.
The Rt. Hon John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons, said:
"There is nothing more inspiring than hearing how these winners used so many innovative ways to get people more involved and connected with UK Parliament. This year's awards have shone a light on this amazing work – and will hopefully encourage others to join the campaign."
More about the winners
Community Campaigner: The Hummingbird Young leaders
The Community Campaigner Award recognises an individual or organisation that has worked towards change in their local community, encouraging and enabling others to do the same.
Hummingbird Young Leaders are an inspiring group of young refugees committed to improving the lives of other young refugees in the UK. They are a group of five young refugees in Brighton, who are working together to raise awareness of the issues facing other refugees in the UK, using their voice to advocate for positive change. The Young Leaders organise and attend events around the country, including regular meetings and events in Parliament. They are highly engaged with a variety of MPs, journalists and other charities and organisations. They also run a weekly group, where they learn new skills such as public speaking, communication, politics and law.
Sarah Bennett, Service manager for Hummingbird Young Leaders said:
“Thank you to you and your team for such warm hospitality and a fantastic event yesterday. It was such a special event for Hummingbird and the Young Leaders and we all had a brilliant time.”
Digital Campaigner: We Care Campaign
The Digital Democracy Award celebrates the work of an individual or organisation that has connected people with the UK Parliament through digital engagement.
We Care Campaign is an ongoing campaign to get a better deal for the UK's 7 million unpaid carers. It is led by carers, for carers. Carers are a hard to reach group as they often feel too tired, too isolated and disempowered to take part in campaigning.
We Care undertook 3 digital activities, these included, running ane-petition calling on government to publish a Carers' Strategy. The petition obtained 2,124 signatures, encouraging unpaid carers to take part in a twitter #AsktheMinister question session to the Minister for Social Care, Caroline Dinenage and organising a Valuing Carers digital event where decision makers, carers and the cared for posted messages of support for unpaid carers during Carers Rights Day.
Katy Styles who led the campaign said,
“We Care want to thank you so much for a special day in Parliament. Engaging with Parliament at this time in a positive way has never been so important and we have loved playing a small part in this.”
UK Parliament Week Activity of the Year: Tazkia Mizan, Eastbury Community School
This category recognises the work of individuals, schools and organisations who made an outstanding contribution to UK Parliament Week outside of our partner programme.
Eastbury Community School is an all-through school in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. The school took part in UK Parliament Week for the first time in 2018 as part of their drive to deliver whole school enrichment on important political and social issues. One example of this is through the successful Model UN Society, which has allowed students to keep up to date with current affairs and to develop into confident, committed and articulate global citizens.
UK Parliament Week activities helped students to develop skills such as leadership, public speaking, research and academic literacy.
Tazkia Mizan, Teacher at Eastbury Community School said,
“I just wanted to personally say thank you for such a great day, we truly had a fantastic time and I know our students and my colleague, Josie Garner, who also attended with me will never forget it.”
UK Parliament Week Partner of the Year: Girlguiding Ulster
This category recognises the work of individuals, schools and organisations who made an outstanding contribution to UK Parliament Week outside of our partner programme.
On Wednesday 21st November 2018, 120 Guides and Rangers representing Girlguiding Ulster attended Stormont in Belfast to celebrate UK Parliament Week and 100 years since women were granted the right to vote. At the event there was a full panel of Members of the Legislative Assembly representing the main parties in Northern Ireland.
The Girlguiding attitudes survey 2018 found that only 53% of girls feel they could be a leader in their chosen role, so Girlguiding Ulster used their UK Parliament Week event to show girls that we do have female leaders even in stereotypical male environment such as politics.
Speaker's School Action Award: Carol Minton-Allen, The Grange Primary School
This award recognises projects which have had a positive impact on schools or communities.
Students from The Grange Primary School have been campaigning to raise awareness of mental health in schools and within their local community. The children have written newspaper articles, political speeches and public statements, held debates, written to members of the royal family, and held a vote and set up their own House of Commons at their school.
The students also won a professional YouTube filming day with Litfilm fest, to record a news report about the mental health issues which starred their local MP Peter Dowd.They are now working alongside the local community to help support families with mental health issues.
Carol Minton-Allen, Teacher at The Grange Primary School said,
“huge thank you to the UK Parliament team for a truly amazing, memorable day! My children were totally in awe of the day. Joe, has decided he wants a career in politics at the tender age of 9!”
Teacher of the Year: Simone Ryan and Joy Helliwell
This award is for outstanding teachers or educational leaders who have taught their students and colleagues about UK Parliament in innovative, inspiring and engaging ways during 2018.
Simone is a Gold Ambassador for Parliament, has been judged outstanding. She is a Personal Social Health Education Co-Ordinator and is Head of Citizenship. She is a Black Caribbean Achievement Champion for the Brent which is an initiative to raise the achievement of Black and Dual Heritage Caribbean pupils. In addition to this she is one of the leaders of the Teaching and Learning Community group.
Simone creates lessons that drive pupils to campaign for issues that they feel passionately about, such as raising fire awareness in the home considering the Grenfell tragedy.
She has organised elections to mirror general election and referendum and has arranged the delivery of Digital Surgeries through the Politics Project.
In her school, Joy is responsible for the planning and delivery of lessons, and the creation of relevant, engaging and challenging resources. She has organised elections to mirror general election and referendum, and has arranged the delivery of Digital Surgeries through the Politics Project.
As a result of the activities, some of her students have become involved in local politics by running as Youth MPs and taking part in the local event 'Mayor for a Day'. They have been given an opportunity to have their voice heard and their concerns listened to. It has also led to students contacting local politicians about issues that matter to them.
Volunteer of the Year: Maxine Jones, Girlguiding Anglia
Maxine is Girlguiding Anglia region was lead volunteer for UK Parliament Week/Vote 100. In 2018 Girlguiding Anglia ran several UK Parliament themed activities including EqualiTeas, Processions and Lords Shadowing.
With initial support from the #EmilyMatters project, Maxine designed the Phenomenal Women & Girls Challenge which encouraged young guides to think about inspiring women from history such as Emily Davison, and the difference that they made for women today.
Maxine was also instrumental in the production of a YouTube video featuring suffragettes and runs a radio show promoting UK Parliament and #VOTE100 throughout 2018. She also contributed regional content to the UK Parliament Week resources, and managed social media coverage for Girlguiding Anglia.
About the awards
2019 marks the second year of the Your UK Parliament awards. The award winners were chosen by the Speaker of the House of Commons, a judging panel of MPs, Peers and independent judges. The Your UK Parliament Awards ceremony was hosted by the Speaker in the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday 2 April 2019.
What next?
Image: UK Parliament