Council thanks dedicated volunteers, staff and partners across the city

Hundreds of hard-working volunteers, employees and partner organisations across Leeds were given a special ‘thank you’ by staff at Leeds City Council for their work to make Leeds the best city for children and young people.

The council’s children’s services directorate held its annual awards ceremony to honour those who have made a special contribution to the council’s ambition to become the best city for children.

Around 200 staff nominated people and organisations for excellence awards, recognising individual and team achievements in working with children and young people.

The highlight of the ceremony was a moving presentation by 9 year-old Evie Addelman – a young Crohn’s disease sufferer who raises awareness about the need for further research into the condition so doctors can better fight the disease.

Held at the Headingley Carnegie Stadium, the awards were also given some sporting glamour with the attendance of Gary Hetherington, chief executive of Leeds Rhinos and Challenge Cup Winner Jamie Jones-Buchanan.

Councillor Judith Blake, Leeds City Council executive member for children’s services, said:

“The staff awards ceremony was an extremely uplifting experience; meeting all those people who are doing their utmost to make Leeds the best city for children was a huge privilege. I’m really proud of everybody who was nominated, especially those who won an award.  It was a great ceremony and those involved in organising the event did a great job ensuring everything ran smoothly!”

Over 200 nominations from staff were received and ten winners were chosen. The winners were:

Sue Rumbold chief officer, partnership, development and business support (left) alongside Pat Case

Pat Case was just one of the individuals and organisations marked for recognition at the Children’s Services Awards for Excellence. She was commended as ‘volunteer of the year’ for her inspirational community work co-founding the charity Beyond Cancer following her diagnosis with breast cancer in 2010. Beyond Cancer raises awareness of cancer and cancer screening to people in Leeds and Pat takes a leading role in organising events supporting those suffering from the illness. Her ‘volunteer of the year’ award recognises the gratitude felt by those touched by her work and the number of lives she has changed.

Members of the Golden Owls Team at Logistik

The ‘partner of the year’ award was awarded to the Golden Owls Team at Logistik who work alongside Leeds City Council and Leeds Young Film to organise the Leeds Young Filmmakers Golden Owls Awards. The team at Logistik help organise and plan the Golden Owls, which showcases the work of young filmmakers from across Leeds, free of charge and as part of an ongoing commitment to provide creative opportunities to young people. The enthusiasm, expertise and support of the Logistik team have helped to make the Golden Owls a huge success.

Anne Pemberton (centre left), Nigel Richardson, director of children’s services  (centre right )  with two  members of Dev Phull’s family.

Anne Pemberton, the manager of Home-Start Leeds and chair of Young Lives Leeds, received the Dev Phull Award which is awarded to those making a special difference to customers or communities. The Home-Start team provides help and support to families experiencing difficulties whilst bringing up children, working with around 300 families per year. Anne has worked with Home-Start for over 25 years and her commitment to Home-Start and the wider welfare of children and their families is evident to those who work with her day-to-day and the families with whom she has contact. In her speech following receiving the award she praised Leeds City Council for working with the third sector and making partnership work.

Donations were also provided by guests to Evie’s Way following 9 year-old Evie Addelman’s presentation. A total of £145 was donated by the ceremony’s guests. Anybody wishing to find out more about Evie’s work, or to make a donation, can visit: https://www.justgiving.com/eviesway/.

The full list of those who received an award is as follows:

Personal achievement of the year: Youth offending service cyclists

Team achievement of the year:  Frameworki team

Learner of the year: Amanda Watson

Partner of the year: Golden Owls Team at Logistik

Colleague of the year: Jenny Ellis

Leader of the year: Emma Ross

Volunteer of the year: Pat Case

Customer Compliment of the year: Camille Wilkinson

Dev Phull award (making a difference to customers or communities): Anne Pemberton from Young Lives Leeds

Laura Maguire award (for promising new social workers): Matthew Oates

Nigel Richardson, Leeds City Council’s director of children’s services, and Sue Rumbold, Leeds City Council chief officer – partnership development and business support, alongside Dev Phull’s family, who presented the Dev Phull award.