The certificates are being given to 3847 pupils at Key Stages 2, with a further 3286 to students at Key Stage 3 and 4. Staff from the Youth Trust have attended more than 16 Awards Ceremonies in the last seven weeks, with the Archbishop handing out 57 certificates at Fairfield Primary School in Stockton on Tees in June.

Elizabeth Howat, Strategic Lead for Secondary Awards said,

“It has been fantastic to go out to schools to hear what pupils have been doing as part of their Award. We are excited that 21 schools have signed up to start delivering the Award programme from September 2016, meaning that many more young people will be able to ‘be the change they want to see within their local community.”

One awards ceremony took place at Bishop’s Blue Coat Church of England High School in Chester where 180 pupils received their certificates. Each class had carried out a different community project including: putting on a lunch and entertainment for the elderly at a local church, litter picking in the local area, cleaning up and gardening at the local bowling green and supporting a local mums’ and babies group. There were also many encouraging and inspiring individual stories.

The Archbishop of York said,

“It is truly fantabulous that so many Young People have completed the Young Leaders’ Award this term. The commitment of both staff and pupils is amazing, and I am convinced that they will go on to influence and change the communities around them.”