Rotarians and Wulfrunians celebrated the youth of Wolverhampton at a special awards ceremony at Wolverhampton University.
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00:00Half a dozen of the judges with mouths open, chins on the desks, wow.
00:12They're doing what? Wow.
00:15And I think you'll see when the citations are read, that we introduce the finalists, which is what you're here for, so I'll get on with it.
00:27As well as raising money for charity, Sierra volunteers with the British Modern Karate Association,
00:34mentoring children through staff and defence, and has also helped to organise a STEM club at school.
00:42She has organised litter picking campaigns in her local community,
00:46and also represents young people as an elected member of the Youth Parliament in the city.
00:54She's attended a residential in the Gambia, helping to reduce children's poverty,
01:00supports the elderly through her work as a volunteer on a telephone helpline,
01:06is a dementia friend, donates children's books to the haven,
01:11and gives generously of her time to supporting others at the Sikh Gurdwara.
01:18I'd like to advise other young people who are experiencing challenges in their lives.
01:24Thank you. I'd say that there are challenges in life, and life can be very challenging,
01:32but there's always opportunities, there's always a way around things, there's always a support network,
01:38that's something that I heavily relied on, and making the decision that I had to make,
01:43I've had my leg amputated at 17, 18, it was a very difficult decision,
01:48but having the people around me, and having the network that was around me,
01:52made that decision easier to get through, so I'd say there are challenges in life, that's part of life,
01:59but I think using a support network, and looking at what opportunities are out there,
02:04and trying to get around it, is a good piece of advice.
02:09Go for it, when you're ready.
02:12We're here with the three winners, congratulations everyone.
02:18So, just going on from left to right we'll go, just how does it feel to win?
02:24It feels kind of not real, as I was watching the citations of all the other finalists,
02:32I was honestly amazed by everyone, every single candidate that was on the stage was amazing,
02:38so to be selected as the winner is, I'm so grateful,
02:42and I guess I just want to say thank you for even considering me.
02:53It feels amazing to win, to be Young Citizen of the Year,
02:57when they're reading out those citations there is some brilliant work that's gone on in the city,
03:01and some brilliant young people here tonight at the Young Citizen of the Year award,
03:05so to be in that category first of all was an amazing honour,
03:09and then to go ahead and win it was a huge honour,
03:12so it feels amazing to be able to win it, and just thank you to the Roadtrip Club,
03:16to the people of Wolverhampton, and to Young Citizen of the Year for a brilliant night,
03:20and for continuing to showcase the amazing work of young people.
03:25I'm absolutely shocked, I don't think it's settled in yet,
03:28I was amazed when I got nominated, and then when I got selected as a finalist,
03:32and now I actually won, but I believe everyone has something to win for,
03:36and we're all winners because everyone has amazing work, and I'm so grateful, so thank you.
03:50I think it was absolutely fantastic,
03:52all these young children, they're all winners in my eyes,
03:55it's not just about the actual winners, it's about all of them,
03:59and all the stories, isn't it?
04:01They've got some amazing stories, brought tears to our eyes,
04:06it was really difficult for us to sort out, but we did in the end, didn't we?
04:12So obviously you see and you hear inspirational stories,
04:15and you see inspirational people like that with young people,
04:18how does it make you feel for the future of war crime?
04:22It's very positive, I mean, unfortunately the press sell bad stories, don't they?
04:31Really.
04:32But there are so many good stories to tell, like these young people,
04:37and as well as these young people, remember, they're just the ones we selected,
04:43there are lots more who were nominated, and lots who weren't nominated,
04:48who are doing, making a big difference to the city, for the better.
04:53We should celebrate it.
04:57So you've taken the reins, so to speak?
05:03Roger feels that after ten years, he's said to the committee that he feels like
05:08he wants to step back and just take a little bit of a back seat,
05:12and he's earned it, as I gave that football analogy in Remain,
05:17but for me it's a bit like taking Alma from Fergie at Man U or Benga at Arsenal,
05:25because he's left an absolute wonderful legacy,
05:29with how he's led the committee, and he's led from the front.
05:35It's certainly going to be impossible to emulate, Roger,
05:40I'll just have to do it in my own way, and I'm sure that I'll get,
05:46the big thing is getting back into what we have, Roger will agree, I'm sure.
05:51We've just had some wonderful, wonderful members on the committee,
05:56and that's been the secret, you know.
05:59If you talk about football management, it's easier to manage if you've got great players in your team,
06:05and we've got a fantastic committee, and I'm sure that we'll be fine.
06:45I'd like to advise other young people who are experiencing challenges in their lives.
06:53Thank you. I'd say that there are challenges in life,
06:57and life can be very challenging, but there's always opportunities,
07:02there's always a way around things, there's always a support network,
07:05that's something that I heavily relied on, and making the decisions that I had to make,
07:10and having my leg amputated at 17, 18, was a very difficult decision,
07:15but having the people around me, and having the network that was around me,
07:19made that decision easier to get through, so I'd say there are challenges in life,
07:25that's part of life, but I think using a support network,
07:28and looking at what opportunities are out there, and trying to get around it,
07:32is a good piece of advice.