YOUNG people stole the show at a prestigious awards ceremony to recognise their achievements.

The High Sheriff Youth Awards were held at Ushaw Historic House and awarded a record amount of £17,000 to 11 local groups.

The headline winners were Stanley Area Youth Consortium, who scooped £3,000, and a special award was made to Corey Daglish from the project, for his outstanding contribution to his local community.

Despite facing many of his own challenges, Corey has dedicated his life to helping others by volunteering with PACT House in Stanley, writing and starring in a video project to challenge anti-social behaviour, attending the Youth Consortium and volunteering with Wear Rivers Trust and Stars Youth Project.

Corey, 16, said: “It feels amazing to get this, but it is a team effort and not just about me. If I ever become a millionaire, if I win the lottery, I’d want to give back to the projects that have helped me. I’d like to go to University and study youth work.”

Other winners on the night were 1409 (Consett) Squadron Air Training Corps, Brandon Boxing Club, Bright Minds Big Futures, Cheesy Waffles Youth Project, Durham Association Boys & Girls Clubs, Durham City Youth Project, Durham Community Boxing Club, Hartlepool Carers, Stanley Area Youth Consortium, STARS Youth and Community CIC and Woodshed Workshop.

Isaac Parks, from Hartlepool Carers, said the project had helped him with his mental health and coping with his role as a carer.

He said: “I can’t say how much it means to win an award.”

This year’s High Sheriff, Mr Robert Harle, said: “The awards are about all these fantastic young people who do so much great work for no praise or recognition, but because they are all decent human beings. It’s been a wonderful night.”  

The awards are held each year and managed by County Durham Community Foundation, but celebrations were forced online for the last two, due to the pandemic.

Michelle Cooper, CEO of the Foundation, said: “We were really fortunate to be able to get together again and celebrate these young people. As ever it’s a very humbling experience and I nearly held it together, but of course I had tears in my eyes by the end. Our thanks to all who make the awards possible.”

Long-term supporters Sir James Knott Trust, Durham Constabulary, the Durham Office of the Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner, UKSE and Durham Shopping Extravaganza created the award funding pot, in recognition of outstanding youth work across County Durham, Hartlepool and Stockton.

Learn more about County Durham Community Foundation at www.cdcf.org.uk