WGS Alumna Kea Presented with High Sheriff’s Young Citizen of the Year Award

We are delighted that Kea Bell, WGS Head Girl 2019-20, has been presented with a Young Citizen of the Year Award for the Manchester borough by Her Majesty’s High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, Eamonn O’Neal.

The Young Citizen of the Year Awards recognise the amazing work being done by the youth across Greater Manchester. The initiative was launched to celebrate kindness, thoughtfulness and actions by young people that have made a difference to local communities during the past year.

Throughout the pandemic, Kea has been involved in her community as a volunteer with the Caribbean & African Health Network (CAHN) and the Life & Friendship Group Burnage (providing emotional support to people who have experienced loss). She also sat in on community board meetings as a young representative for the Greater Manchester Combined Youth Authority, a board that allows young people to use their voices to influence policies in GMCR, and for the CAHN Young People Forum.

High Sheriff, Eamonn O’Neal said, “Our young people play a huge role in making local communities safer and better places to live and I really wanted to recognise and celebrate their achievements.

“These exceptional youngsters, all aged between 11-18yrs, have demonstrated their commitment to social action and community engagement. The judges were so impressed with the quantity and quality of the nominations that we have chosen ten Young Citizen winners, one in each of Greater Manchester’s boroughs. “

Unfortunately, owing to Covid restrictions, there has not been a formal presentation event but the High Sheriff was able to present Kea with the award, sponsored by Beaverbrooks and supported by the High Sheriff Police Trust, personally in an appropriately Covid safe way.

Congratulations to Kea. It is wonderful to see the sense of social responsibility and community spirit that is such a part of our ethos here at Withington being upheld by our students and alumna beyond school.