Last night the Hammersmith and Fulham Youth Achievement Awards was held virtually to celebrate the many achievements and talents of the young people of Hammersmith & Fulham over the last difficult year. Nearly 100 people attended the virtual awards ceremony, including Councillors, Cabinet Members and the Chief Executive of Hammersmith & Fulham Council and with speeches from the winners and music and dance performances online.

The Awards were organised by the Youth Council and the Young Hammersmith & Fulham Foundation, with the support of local businesses and organisations, including Stanhope on behalf of Television Centre and White City Place.

The winner of the Stanhope-sponsored COVID champion was Nina who was nominated by her school teacher. Nina set up a new project at the beginning of lockdown to encourage students to write to residents in care homes and this project matched schools, nationally and internationally, and care homes; letters were sent to care homes in London and across the UK from over 250 schools. This provided the elderly with a form of human connection that helped to ease feelings of isolation and loneliness which have been exacerbated by the pandemic.