The awards, a Youthscape project with individual awards, looked for excellence in church-based and Christian youth work.
It was judged by a panel of youth work practitioners, lecturers and young people, from a pool of public nominations.
The awards are as follows:
Volunteer of the Year:
Sponsored by: CPAS Ventures
Barbara Cole, Pendle Youth Fellowship
This award was created to commend passionate, skilled and servant-hearted volunteers. Barbara Cole has been a volunteer youth worker in Pendle, Lancashire for 30 years, seeing many young people come to Christ. She joked about the fact that she had been there so long that young people who were in her youth group were now bringing their own children back to join the group!
Most Innovative Youth Work:
Sponsored by: Moorlands College
Level One, Stirling Baptist Church
Applauding a fresh approach, this award is for those reaching out to new groups of young people. Launched in January 2014, Level One has become a community hub, where broken young people turn for support.
Unsung Hero of the Year:
Sponsored by: Existence Ltd
Ben Cordy, Leeds Youth Cell Network
This award is aimed at facilitators who give outstanding support to their youth workers. Popular among church leaders and youth workers in Leeds, Ben Cordy co-ordinates groups and organisations across numerous denominations and knows every young person on their books. When accepting the award, he championed youth workers who took time out to invest in him in his youth and shared what an honour it is for him to now be doing the same.
Best Youth Work Resource:
Sponsored by Premier Youthwork Magazine
Because You Are Loved, Pais Project
This award recognises a creative, innovative and relevant resource, which will be used by youth workers again and again. Because You Are Loved provides a card, which should be delivered along with an anonymous good deed. It encourages young people to share the love of Jesus while injecting their own ideas.
Best Youth Work Employer:
Sponsored by: London School of Theology
Urban Saints Ltd
Aimed at employees who invest in and support their youth workers, this award was presented to Urban Saints Ltd. Combining a fun, creative atmosphere with training and support, they hold a daily prayer time and put the spiritual welfare of all its employees at the top of the list. Evidence of Urban Saints working closely with other organizations was proved by the fact that they had worked alongside both of the other nominees South West Youth Ministries and Phase, Hitchin.
Young Leader of the Year:
Sponsored by: The Methodist Church
Cat Sisman, Esther Lodge
This year a new award was added, specifically commending young Christians with significant influence on the other young Christians around them. Both finalists won the award, accepting it with humility and a sense of unity and camaraderie. One of the winners, Esther Lodge told Premier Youthwork; 'I'm really surprised actually, because, talking to Cat, she did such a great job with the links to the Children's Hospital. I'm really happy that we both able to share the award.' She went on to talk about the future impact of this award; 'sometimes I doubt myself and to receive the award, to be recognised on this level is quite overwhelming and it's going to spur me on and I'm going to definitely continue to volunteer my time.'
Youth Worker of the Year:
Sponsored by: CYM
Lee Kirkby, St Michael le Belfrey in York
Recognising hard-working, caring youth workers, this award is given to those who build positive relationships with young people, helping them to see their potential and fulfil it. Lee Kirkby was described as someone who radiates Jesus and an inspiration to young people. On receiving the award, he commended his 'amazing team,' calling them his best friends. He told Premier Youthwork; 'it's obviously a big thank you from those that appreciate what I do, what I represent, the team and all the youth work resources at church. It's quite affirming that I'm doing the right thing.' He spoke about the importance of someone spending time with him as a young person; 'I ended up going into youth work because someone really invested in me and I think now I've got to this stage of winning this award, it's made me realise that I could have the same impact on someone else's life and just to keep on investing in people, no matter how small that may be – we know that acorns grow into great oak trees.'