The Jubilee Centre was delighted to showcase thank you letters written by young people from across the UK, and internationally, with an awards ceremony on Wednesday 11th May 2016. Over 40,000 young people have taken part in the 2016 Thank You Letter Awards and schools from up and down the country attended the celebratory event.
The competition invited young people to write a letter to thank a person, a group or organisation that has really inspired them, made their life better or improved their local community, Britain or the world. Many thanked their closest family members, friends, teachers, charities and inspirational figures.
Those at the ceremony were able to hear some of the letters being read out by the young people, and the finalists, runners-up and winners from both primary and secondary schools were announced and awarded their certificates and prizes. Charlotte Hill, CEO of Step Up To Serve, presented the awards and spoke about who in her life she is particularly grateful to and why.
One of the letters heard at the ceremony was a special thank you to Malala Yousafzai, who became the youngest person ever to be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 when she was recognised for her courage and determination in fighting for children and women’s right to education. The Jubilee Centre was delighted to welcome Malala's parents to the awards ceremony where they were able to hear how Malala's story had inspired young people.
The finalists, runners up and winners from both primary and secondary categories are listed below.
Finalists
Primary:
Florence Underwood, Harborne Primary School, Birmingham
Edie Davies, Hook Lane Primary School, Kent
Chloe Pike, Hook Lane Primary School, Kent
Inigo Duffield, Windlesham School, West Sussex
Rashida Sillah, Broadford Primary School, Essex
Secondary:
Alfie Stewart, Hall Mead School, Upminster
Tessa Yau, Albyn School, Aberdeen
Robert Shaw, Albyn School, Aberdeen
Lydia Matterson, The Academy at Shotton Hall, County Durham
Santi Campo Arbolés, Viaró Global School, Spain
Winners and Runners Up
Primary
Winner:
Adaeze Ordu, St Teresa Catholic Primary School, Birmingham
Runners-Up:
Charmaine, St Mary's and St John's C of E Primary School, London
Lyla Perkins, Harborne Primary School, Birmingham
Secondary
Winner:
Peace Buraimo, King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls, Birmingham
Runners-Up:
Vlad Gabriel, Thistley Hough Academy, Stoke-on-Trent
Kajol Korotania, Nishkam High School, Birmingham
Photos from the 2016 Thank You Letter Awards can be viewed below.
