Bedford Academy played host to an inspirational celebration of young people last week, as nominees in the inaugural Aspire Awards were recognised for their extraordinary contributions to their communities.
YouthTV Group CIC hosted the new awards on Friday, 26 June, in partnership with headline sponsor the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce.
The ceremony was an opportunity to bring together young people, organisations, sponsors, community leaders and supporters from across Bedford and Bedfordshire for an evening celebrating talent, ambition, and impact.
Urban Judge FRSA, founder and group CEO of YouthTV Group CIC, described the evening as “everything we dreamed it would be, and more,” adding that to see 60 nominees celebrated in one room was “genuinely moving.”
Guests of honour included Mohammad Yasin, MP for Bedford and Kempston, and Hannan Ali DL, Deputy Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, rubbing shoulders with the deserving nominees.
“Incredible talent”
Award categories spanned Rising Stars, Community and Inclusion, Environment and Enterprise, and Education Excellence, with the headline Young Leader Award sponsored by the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce.
Winners were selected via a rigorous independent judging panel to ensure complete impartiality.
Justin Richardson, chief executive of the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, described it as a privilege to be the headline sponsor, saying the event was “an inspiring reminder of the incredible talent that exists within our young people.”
He said he hoped the awards would become”a lasting Bedfordshire tradition.”
Community partnerships
Community and partnership were central to the spirit of the evening.
Samantha Laycock, centre manager of Bedford’s Harpur Centre, was both a judge and presented two awards on the night.
She told the audience that the nominees represent “the future clients, colleagues, leaders, and innovators of this town,” and that “supporting them now is how you build a community worth living and working in for years to come.”
Justine Maroudias, operations director of Talk UK Telecom, sponsor of the Rising Entrepreneur Award, said she was inspired by the passion and ambition in the room.
She encouraged other organisations to support future awards, saying: “Supporting initiatives like this is about investing in young people, building connections, and helping create opportunities for the future.
“We would encourage any organisation looking to make a real impact in their local community to get involved.”
A hat-trick for The Bedford College Group
Among the winners were three students from The Bedford College Group’s Bedford Sixth Form, recognising their leadership, dedication and positive impact within the college and across their local communities.
Sherelle Weeks, Iqra Quadeer and Annina Caparco all earned well-deserved recognition for their hard work, determination and commitment to making a difference in their communities.
Sherelle Weeks was named Cultural Ambassador for her commitment to bringing people together and celebrating diversity across the college.
Iqra Quadeer received the Community Impact Award in recognition of her dedication to supporting others and the positive difference she continues to make, while Annina Caparco received the prestigious Young Leader Award for her exceptional leadership and inspiring impact.
Hayley Doyne-Ditmas, head of The Bedford Sixth Form, said: “This is an incredibly proud moment for The Bedford Sixth Form.
“To have three of our students recognised at the Aspire Awards is a fantastic achievement and reflects not only their individual achievements, but also their dedication to supporting others and making a positive difference.
“Sherelle, Iqra and Annina have each embraced every opportunity to contribute to college life and inspire those around them.
“They are exceptional ambassadors for The Bedford Sixth Form, and we couldn’t be prouder of everything they have achieved.”
“Young people deserve a platform”
Entertainment throughout the evening was provided by Born to Perform, whose students performed across the night, bringing energy, talent, and a fitting reminder of what young people are capable of when given the right stage.
Urban Judge closed by paying tribute to every partner who made the evening possible.
“Thank you to the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce for believing in us from the very beginning, and to every sponsor and partner whose generosity made the evening what it was,” he said.
“YouthTV exists because young people deserve a platform, and tonight showed exactly why.
“This is only the first chapter, and I cannot wait for what comes next.”
The Bedford Independent was among the proud sponsors of the awards, alongside Concept Event Solutions, PDM Motor Spares, Bedford College, BPHA, The Harpur Trust, Bedford Giving, Born to Perform, CustomTEK Ltd, Greenwood Drones, Twenty-Six Studios and Lionsgate Consulting.
