Young care leavers recognised at awards event

Holly with Children's Services Director, Colette Dutton

From being a peer role model, excelling academically, contributing to their community, or becoming an accomplished sports person; the many different achievements of young care leavers from Wigan Borough have been celebrated at a special awards event.

Wigan Council’s annual ceremony recognises those who have overcome often adverse circumstances to achieve stability and success.

Councillor Jenny Bullen, Cabinet Member for Children and Families, presented the awards along with along with Chief Executive of Wigan Council, Alison McKenzie-Folan, Director of Children’s Services, Colette Dutton, Practice Director Sandie Hayes, and Councillor Gena Merrett.

Councillor Bullen said; “This awards ceremony is one of my favourite events of the year. It’s an opportunity to hear so many positive stories about young people who, with some support, but also through their own resilience, have achieved so much.

“The theme of this year’s national care leavers week was, ‘All of us, we are one’ so it felt perfect in terms of us all being together at the awards event and sharing this connection.

“The theme was voted for by care leavers nationally, because they said that it was when they were together, they felt the most understood.

“In Wigan Borough, I really do feel like our care leavers and our staff team excel at working together and this helps us to achieve the best possible outcomes for our young people.

“Thank you to our care leavers and to our staff for the hard work and dedication that has gone into some of the achievements we’ve celebrated at this awards event, it is a privilege to support you.”

Aidan Hayes, age 23, from Leigh, was awarded the coveted Care Leaver of the Year Award because of his achievements within his apprenticeship whilst becoming a father, which then lead to him securing a full-time position working for Wigan Council.

Awards were given out in 11 different categories, including Peer Role Model, Academic Achiever, Community Contribution, Parent of the Year, and the Trish Hurlock Special Award, which recognises young people who have overcome adversity and is awarded in memory of a former member of the council’s leaving care team, who died in 2016.

Care leaver Holly Warburton, 21, was the winner of this year’s Community Contribution Award.

Holly said: “I was so overwhelmed and grateful, not only for the award but for the help and support I’ve received over the years and the great bond I’ve had with my PA’s (personal advisors).

“I couldn’t stand up on stage to tell them, but I want them to know that I couldn’t have felt more comforted by their presence and visits I’ve had with them over the years.

“Thank you to everyone who made so much effort in making this year’s awards event so loving and meaningful to people who don’t always feel like that every day.

“We came to the awards not knowing what to expect or how much effort had been put into it, and we left with big smiles on our faces.

“It was a day of pure brilliance and joyful emotion.”

Alisha Hilton, age 24, from Hindley, won this year’s parent of the year award.

Alisha added; “I would like to thank my personal advisor, Lynn, for not only nominating me for the award but for recognising the changes and challenges I’ve faced to be stood where I am now.

“I may not be in the place where I want to be forever, but I’m on the right path of getting where I want to be.

“Winning this award really has made me realise how far I have come and made me realise I am a lot stronger than I think.

“It’s important that we have the care leavers awards in Wigan because most of us don’t have that person to acknowledge our achievements and it’s hard for us to recognise them ourselves. So, when someone tells you how well you are doing and how far you’ve come it’s just a very good feeling.”

Local youth support organisations helped to make the awards day even more special for the young people involved, with Inicio Group sponsoring the event and Inspire donating some generous raffle prizes.

Coun. Bullen added; “I want to say to any young care leavers who might be reading this to continue reaching for your own ambitions.

“We will be here to support you along the way.”

Young care leavers from Wigan Borough can find out more about the support available by joining the Wigan Care Leavers closed group on Facebook or on Instagram @clwhub.

2024’s Award Winners

Peer Role Model: Ollie Forbes
Community Contribution: Holly Warburton
Progression Awards: Mohamed Abdulwahab and Daniel Pilling
Parent of the Year: Alisha Hilton
Academic Achiever: Sean Mercer
Overcoming Adversity: Tom
Trish Hurlock Award: Kelsey Heaton
Care Leaver of the Year: Aidan Hayes.