Pride of Somerset Youth Awards 2023

Pride of Somerset Youth Awards

On May 9^th (Somerset Day) the Rotary Club of Taunton celebrated 16years of the Pride of Somerset Youth awards.Held at Bridgwater and Taunton College young people were recognised for their outstanding achievements. Guests at the event included The Lord Lieutenant of Somerset; Chair of Somerset Council; High Sheriff of Somerset; Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner and the Deputy Mayor of Taunton.

The evening was hosted by Simon Parkin of BBC Somerset.

The event started with music from the Bridgwater and Taunton College Show Choir followed by awards to the following young people :-

Barnabas Kerr  - a Somerset Network Scout who is going to Kenya and had raised £5,500 to fund the trip and buy materials to help students and young people in Kenya.

Jack Sweeney  - who has been volunteering  as a coach for Huish Tigers Basketball Club designing and coaching practices for all levels.

Ethan Kana-ah-Pollak   -  at 11 years old he has been helping the homeless and those living on the street. At Christmas instead of opening his presents he went out to feed the homeless and collect clothes to keep them warm.

Betty Coggins  -  has had to deal with her father having a rare form of stomach cancer but has still kept up with her studies and was awarded a Queens Jubilee medal by the Royal Life Saving Society.

Hope Relph  -  is a Regimental Sergeant Major for the Somerset Battalion. She is one of the Lord Lieutenant’s Cadets and works hard with cadets to support their welfare and training needs.

Thorley Trevorrow  -  in 2022 at the age of 10 Thorley competed in the FIM Cup World Series racing a 1600cc Ohirale Motorcycle as one of the youngest competitors.

Beth Yetton  -  has been volunteering for the Sue Ryder Charity and Yung Somerset including volunteering in the Bold and Brave shop in Taunton where she also makes earrings which she sells.

Eddie Moran  - developed a mobile app called Stepstack to motivate young people to venture outdoors. His app is now on Google Store and App Store and he now has over 700 young people involved.

Niamh Holland  -  is an outstanding cricketer and was selected for the under 19 English Womens squad  -  Watch this name ( Jos Butler was a POSYA winner at 18). Postscript Somerset Women Young Player of the Season 2023

A special award in memory of Sandy Padgett was presented to Antony Knight an exceptional 16 year old violinist who has subsequently raised money for the Ukraine appeal by giving recitals in 30 churches across Somerset raising over £6000

The President of the Rotary Club of Taunton concluded the evening by thanking all the guests and congratulating  all the young people.