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Life-Changing Diana Award for UK’s Young Inspiration

On Tuesday, 15 December 2009, I had the honour of photographing eighty of the UK’s most inspirational young people who were honoured with the Diana Award by Kidulthood Star, Aml Ameen, Dawn Butler MP, Minister for Youth Citizens and Youth Engagement and Julia Samuel, friend of Diana and Founder Patron of the Child Bereavement Charity. The ceremony marked the Diana Award’s 10th anniversary year and took place at Barclays, Churchill Place, London, E14.

This lifetime honour, in memory of Princess Diana was presented to young people – from all circumstances and sections of society - who are determined to take action and make a positive change to their communities and the lives of others. Many of these young people disregard their own difficulties to help others. They enjoy giving back and putting others first.

The Diana Award was created in 1999 by friends of Princess Diana who felt that her belief in the power of young people to change the world, and her desire to reach out to people who might otherwise have been marginalized, should not be allowed to end with her tragic death. The 27,000 Diana Award holders from across the UK represent the values that the late Princess lived by.

The Diana Award has three award schemes:-

The Diana Award, our flagship programme for inspiring individuals;

The Diana Anti-Bullying Award for young people who have tackled bullying and

The Diana Certificate of Excellence for groups of young people who have made an exceptional contribution to their community.

The Diana Award invests in young people through its unique development programme which harnesses the compassion and commitment of these young people so they fulfill their aspirations for society.

Young people receiving the Diana Award included:

17 year old Gertride from London, was deeply upset by the brutal stabbings of people she knew. Deciding that enough was enough and that someone had to make a stand to end this violence she set up the ‘Breaking the Cycle Campaign’ which raises awareness of the suffering knife crime causes to the families of both victims and perpetrators as well as the whole community. Local Police credit her with a reduction in knife crime in her community.

13 year old Jak from Worcestershire, has received major brain surgery and chemotherapy this year. Despite this he has successfully made the transition to senior school. He has also raised thousands of pounds to replace vital equipment at the hospital where he received treatment. Determined to make something positive from his negative experience he acts as a mentor to other pupils making the difficult move from primary school to secondary school.

18 year old Jonathan from Essex, was the victim of a horrific unprovoked stabbing attack. While recovering from this terrible crime he decided to help his local community by creating opportunities for other young people to play sport. He now coaches at and fundraises for a local Hockey club, and acts as an ambassador for sport in the London Borough of Enfield.

17 year old Kate from Cumbria, acts as a young carer to her younger sister who has learning difficulties. Fed up with the lack of local play opportunities and support for people like her sister, she decided to create her own, and uses her skills as an art student to provide art based play therapy for local young people who have learning difficulties.