Lauren Copeland, winner of our ‘Dignity Award’, is a member of our #iwill social action youth group at The Hive, one of our Community Hubs. She won this award for her dedication across a number of different social action projects, and for her commitment to being a young leader, providing exceptional mentoring to the junior members who were also taking part in projects.

Lander Road Year 5 class were the winners of this year’s ‘#iwill award’. They were participants on our #iwill schools programme, where they designed a social action project aimed at supporting local homeless charity, The Whitechapel Centre, through campaigning and fundraising. The Whitechapel Centre said; “It is only thanks to the generosity of supporters like the pupils at Lander Road that we are able to continue our life-changing, life-saving work.”

Aimee Lynskey was the winner of our ‘Ambition Award.’ Aimee is a passionate mental health and social action advocate, and is a vital member of the LFC Foundation Youth Panel. She plays a key role in ensuring that youth voice is at the heart of all that the LFC Foundation does by meeting with programme managers and helping to lead discussion on what is required from programmes that are in the planning and development stage.

Aimee was also the overall ‘Young Person of the Year’ winner at the Community Awards 2023, as recognition of her incredible work over the past year.

Stephen Hale, #iwill Social Action Programme Manager said,

“The #iwill social action team is incredibly proud of all of our participants, and it is very special to have some of their achievements recognised with awards. Lauren, Aimee, and the pupils at Lander Road epitomise the Power of Youth. They are dedicated and driven young people who have made an enormous positive difference to the communities around them in very different ways. Having award winners from three key impact areas; our schools programme, our Hub programme and from our Youth Panel; underlines the tremendous breadth of the #iwill Youth Voice Champions programme at the LFC Foundation. Congratulations to all of the deserving nominees and winners.”

Power of Youth Day is an annual opportunity to say THANK YOU to all the young people who are working to make positive change in their communities every day. It’s a chance to spotlight their and demonstrate the real commitment that organisations, and other individuals, have in empowering young people.

Young people make a huge impact in our communities every day. They usetheir energy, skills and ideas to make positive change in their local areas andbeyond, working to shape a better future for everyone.We want to support and empower young people to play an even bigger role in shaping their communities and society.