Who Will Win A High 5 Award 2016?

Swans star Leon Britton has kicked off the countdown to the High 5 Awards 2016 which take place at the Liberty Stadium on Thursday, September 29th. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Courageous, caring, and amazingly resilient children and young people who overcome adversity to be the best they can be are among those shortlisted for this year’s awards. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Others impressed judges and made it to the shortlist by making life better for others including members of their families, schools or communities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They’ve all been invited to attend the gala presentation night where the winners will be announced and presented prizes by Swans star Leon Britton. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

More than 350 under 25s were nominated as individuals or as part of groups for the High 5 Awards 2016 run by Swansea Council and partners from the public and private sector. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Nominations flooded in from friends, family, schools, Council staff, and voluntary organisations in a bid to celebrate their hard work and achievements. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Judges were so impressed with all the entries this year that every nomination will receive a certificate and many of them will receive a Highly Commended for going the extra mile. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Those who particular impressed the judges are now on a shortlist in line for an extra special prize designed around them with the help of High 5 and its sponsors. They have been invited to Thursday night’s High 5 celebration. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The awards aim to raise the profile of young people who have made a difference in their communities or succeeded against the odds, helping them gain the confidence to continue their efforts, and enabling them to inspire others . ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Swans player and awards ambassador Leon Britton said: “Judges have been blown away by the quality of entries this year. What young people can achieve and how great they can be no matter what life throws at them is truly humbling for everyone involved. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“That’s why judges have awarded more Highly Commended certificates than ever before and preparing a shortlist of finalists was a really hard task. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am looking forward to meeting those who have been shortlisted and congratulating the winners on Thursday and I hope their stories will prove to be an inspiration to others of all ages across Swansea.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Phil Roberts, Swansea Council Chief Executive, said: “We are proud to be involved with The High 5 Awards 2016 which is one of the most important events of the year in Swansea. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s the city’s chance to celebrate the achievements of young people in it’s communities and inspire other young people in the city to go on and do great things.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The High 5 awards are open to any child or young person or group in three age ranges – up to 13s, aged 14 to 19 or 20-25 year olds. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It’s the fifth year that the Swansea Council-led High 5 awards have been held. This year more than 110 individuals and 20 groups of young people were nominated including a whole school class. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The awards are sponsored by Gower College Swansea, and supported by Swansea City FC, The Wave, Rotary Club of Swansea, Trade Tyres Swansea, Swansea Building Society, Day’s Rental, Stenor Environmental Services, Swansea Council’s recycling team, Swansea Lord Mayor’s Office, Dragon Events, and The Dragon Hotel. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​