In a slight change in format from the other categories, Islanders are asked to nominate youngsters for one of six categories.
At the end of the process, the JEP’s Pride of Jersey Awards, with the help of readers, will narrow the field down to three finalists for each category, with each going forward to the Variety Young Star of the Year finals in the autumn.
Nominations for this awards can be made through the JEP, through a soon-to-be-launched Pride of Jersey website or by picking up a nomination form from any branch of the Co-op.
The young Islanders we want to honour must be under the age of 18.
Perhaps they have battled against a serious illness, without letting it get in the way of their daily routine, or they may have been an inspiration to others by dedicating time and effort to help people.
Alternatively, they could be a leading light in their sport or hobby, gaining recognition for their efforts and putting Jersey on the map, or simply excelling at every level.
Children are our future, and this award will help us to celebrate them.
The six award categories for Young Star of the Year award are:
- Courage: Someone who has overcome or dealt with a debilitating illness, or who may have shown courage in other ways for example, dealing with an emergency in the home or elsewhere.
- Community: Someone who has given up their time to help, either with charity or youth club work, or just helping others in the community.
- Carer: Someone who may have a parent or sibling with special needs and who has gone that extra mile to help, sometimes foregoing their own activities.
- Sport: Someone who has achieved a great deal for their age, not necessarily a child with special needs.
- Arts: Someone who has excelled in either dance, drama, singing or other arts.
- Academic: Someone who has excelled at school. It might be because they have had to face adversity or challenges with language or with special needs, or that they show particular excellence in the academic world.
Read about the nominations for Young Star of the Year 2015 here:
Name: Mathew Kirkland
Age: 15
Parish: Grouville
Nominated by: Jean Felton
A ‘CHARISMATIC’ boy who suffered bullying and now raises awareness of the visual perceptual disorder Irlen syndrome has been nominated for the Young Star of the Year award.
Mathew Kirkland was bullied for years, abuse which left him with permanent hearing damage that has required numerous ear operations.
He was later diagnosed with Irlen syndrome, but has gone from success to success since being given special lenses to correct the problem.
Mathew’s Irlen diagnostician, Jean Felton, who nominated him, says that he has won many medals for gymnastics and now teaches others about Irlen syndrome.
‘He took to the stage in October 2014 to explain to a school assembly what life with Irlen syndrome was like,’ she said.
‘He had a rapt audience and raised much awareness.’
Since receiving his new lenses, Mathew has won a verse-speaking cup for drama and has been rewarded for his attainments in music, English and science.
Mathew has also recently been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome but never lets anything get in his way, Ms Felton added.
Name: Sara Strudwick
Age: 16
Parish: St Brelade
Nominated by: Jaime Boylan
A SINGER who has overcome her nerves and has performed as support to well-known artists is in the running for the Young Star of the Year.
When Sara Strudwick started singing she suffered from self-doubt and was very quiet and nervous.
Jaime Boylan, Sara’s vocal coach, who nominated her, says that some days she was so sad in her class that she couldn’t even sing.
‘She didn’t believe in herself at all and thought that she wasn’t good enough,’ she said.
‘It was heart-breaking to see.’
Miss Boylan said she had found songs that Sara could relate to and lyrics that helped her explain the things she was going through.
This helped Sara build her confidence in singing and she had grown as a person.
‘She has become an outgoing young woman in charge of her own destiny,’ Miss Boylan said.
‘She has supported acts such as JLS, James Arthur and Sir Tom Jones and has recently made it through to the semi-finals of BGT.
‘She was dedicated and hard-working.
‘I am so incredibly proud of her and who she has become,’ she added.
Name: Leanne Cooper
Age: 9
Parish: St Martin
Nominated by: Anna Cooper
A COURAGEOUS young girl who has coped with a ‘horrific year’ is in the running for Young Star of the Year.
Leanne Cooper has had a very difficult time dealing with the loss of family members over the past couple of years.
Leanne is only nine years old and last year she had to cope with the loss of her stepfather, who sadly took his own life.
This devastating event was ‘a real struggle’ for the family to cope with, especially for the young Leanne.
While still coping with the loss of her stepfather, she also lost her grandmother, who passed away at the end of January without any warning.
Leanne has lost two people who were a big influence in her life and has managed to cope with the struggle and deal with the situation extremely well.
Anna Cooper, Leanne’s mother, who nominated her, said: ‘It’s been an immense rollercoaster of emotion for us all, but Leanne has managed to take it in her stride incredibly well.’
‘Leanne has shown considerable courage,’ she added.
Name: Fatima De Jesus
Age: 10
Parish: St Helier
Nominated by: Maria Andrade
A TEN-year-old girl who has bravely faced liver transplants since she was a baby is in the running for a Young Star of the Year award.
Fatima De Jesus was born with a problem with her liver which meant that she would have to have a transplant.
When she was just five weeks old she had her first surgery and, once operated on, she was constantly in and out of hospital.
At three years old she had further surgery, including another liver transplant that her body then rejected a year later.
Since then she has had various operations but continues to keep a smile on her face.
Fatima’s mother, Maria Andrade, who nominated her, says that her daughter is courageous and is a superstar.
‘She is a happy child who fights for her life and strives every day to have a normal life like any child her age,’ she said.
Fatima has to be constantly observed by specialists at the General Hospital as well as by doctors in London and is due to have more surgery in the future.
Name: Jacob Klynes
Age: 7
Parish: St Ouen
Nominated by: Faye Blest
A SEVEN-year old boy who is a ‘supportive and understanding’ big brother is in the running for the Young Star of the Year.
Jacob Klynes has been nominated for the support he has given to his 20-month-old brother, Isaac, who had a heart transplant just over a year ago.
Since that operation Isaac has had numerous complications, which have meant that he has had to continually return to specialist paediatric units in the UK. Faye Blest, who nominated Jacob, is the nurse who has been looking after the Isaac.
She said that he was very understanding of the trips that his parents have had to make for Isaac’s care.
‘He always puts others before himself, often not showing how upset he is about his little brother being ill and putting on a brave face for his parents,’ she said.
‘He is very courageous and is an energetic, happy lad who can put a smile on anybody’s face,’ she added.
Name: Isobel Kelly
Age: 16
Parish: St Clement
Nominated by: Florrie Copley
A MOTIVATED pupil who has reached far beyond her potential is in the running for a Young Star of the Year award.
Isobel Kelly was living in care and was having to cope with a number of personal challenges when she started the Prince’s Trust ‘xl’ personal development and teamwork programme.
At the time she was in Year 10 at school and her self-esteem was low.
Since then, she has pushed herself by taking part in group activities and has become a valued member of the xl team.
Her self-esteem and confidence have grown and her attendance at school has also improved, and she has fully engaged in her lessons.
She has also raised more than £40 selling hand-crafted hearts, proving herself to be a young entrepreneur in the making.
Florrie Copley, who nominated Isobel, says that she has worked over and above the xl programme requirements.
‘Everyone who knows her are sure that with her new-found confidence and determination, she has a bright and successful future,’ she said.
‘Isobel can be extremely proud of how far she has come over the past two years.’
Name: Harvey Alves
Age: 8
Parish: St Martin
Nominated by: Charlotte Volanté
A BOY who does everything he can to help his aunt has been nominated for the Young Star of the Year award.
Harvey Alves is eight years old and it never troubles him to do things for his aunt, Charlotte Volanté, who has been in a wheelchair all her life and at times needs a helping hand.
Miss Volanté says that when Harvey is asked to do something he just gets on with it.
‘He never asks me why I am in a wheelchair and why I am disabled, and that’s why I would like to nominate him for this award,’ she said.
When Miss Volanté drops anything on the floor, Harvey will pick it up for her as he knows she cannot bend down to pick it up herself, and he will always be the first to offer to push his aunt in her wheelchair when they go out for a walk.
Harvey also loves to spend time sitting and enjoying a colouring book with her.
Name: Elizabeth Atkinson
Age: 9
Parish: St Saviour
Nominated by: Angela de la Haye
A GIRL who is passionate about sport and committed to developing her skills as a triathlete is in the running for the Young Star of the Year.
Elizabeth Atkinson is a pupil at Janvrin School and her enthusiasm for sport has never diminished.
She is constantly training to develop her skills and enjoys a range of activities, including cycling, running and sea swimming.
Angela de la Haye, Elizabeth’s Year 4 teacher, who nominated her, says that she has a superb sense of sportsmanship and seizes every opportunity to develop as a triathlete.
‘Elizabeth’s commitment, passion, drive and enthusiasm have seen her do whatever it takes to become the great triathlete she is today,’ she said.
Elizabeth has competed on the Olympic course in Eton and has taken part in the Portsmouth Triathlon, finishing second and then sixth overall.
On top of this, she was selected to represent Janvrin School at the opening ceremony of the Island Games and was involved in the triathlon among the junior team cheering on the athletes after their swim.
Name: Rebecca Noke
Age: 10
Parish: St Helier
Nominated by: Margaret Mendes
TEN-year-old Rebecca Noke has been nominated for the Young Star of the Year Award for the dedication she has shown her parents since her father became ill last year.
The day before Rebecca’s ninth birthday her father, Paul, collapsed and was rushed to hospital with a brain aneurysm. After spending a year at Overdale, he was moved to the Jersey Cheshire Home.
Rebecca has been nominated for the award by Margaret Mendes, who said that Rebecca had been a huge support to her parents during such a difficult time.
‘She hasn’t missed one day of visiting, and she helped in the early days of Paul’s illness to feed him, and helped with his speech,as well as playing board games with him, painting pictures and making cards. Rebecca has been like a nurse – I am sure she will be one in the future,’ she added.
As Rebecca’s father is slowly recovering, she takes him around in his wheelchair, makes him coffee and ensures that he is comfortable.
Mrs Mendes said that Rebecca, a pupil of Rouge Bouillon School, also helped her mother around the house, adding : ‘I don’t know how her mum would have coped without her.’
Name: Finleigh Donald
Age: 15
Parish: St Helier
Nominated by: Melissa Nobrega
HAUTLIEU student Finleigh Donald has been put forward for the Young Star of the Year Award by a staff member at Jersey Hospice Care.
Melissa Nobrega has nominated the teenager because she was so impressed that even though she faced the difficult circumstances of her mother Gabrielle having cancer, she had shown the enthusiasm and drive to arrange a cake sale on Hautlieu School’s sports day which raised £155 for the charity, which is supporting the family.
Finleigh is in Year 10 at Hautlieu and has just started studying for her GCSEs.
Mrs Nobrega said: ‘What stood out for me was Finleigh’s initiative in bringing together, with the support of her class and teacher, different people to be involved in the cake sale. She even wore a bunny outfit on what was the hottest day of the year.’
In Mrs Nobrega’s view, Finleigh is a true example to others and is indicative of the many children in Jersey who are involved in fundraising for charity.
‘She thoroughly deserves to be chosen as a Young Star of the Year,’ she added.
Names: Seth Fernandes and Brandon Moignard
Age: 10
Parish: St Helier
Nominated by: Teacher Lisa Harber
TWO schoolboys who went to the rescue of a classmate who got into difficulties in a swimming pool have been nominated by their teacher for the Young Star of the Year Award.
Seth Fernandes and Brandon Moignard, both 10, helped to save the life of another child in their class who needed assistance during a swimming lesson at Langford pool.
Their teacher, Lisa Harber, who has nominated them for the award, said had seen that their friend was under the water and had not resurfaced. She said: ‘They acted very quickly to pull him up and get him to the side of the pool, where they held his head above water until the adults took over.’
After the incident, there was praise for the boys for their life-saving actions from the doctors who looked after their friend.
Mrs Harber said that their care of their classmate had not ended there, either, as they had continued to support him in his daily life at school.
Name: Majka Jachec-Dias
Age: 6
Parish: St Helier
Nominated by: Agata Jachec-Dias, Grands Vaux School
A YOUNG girl who has bravely faced surgery since she was six weeks old has been nominated for the Young Star of the Year.
Majka Jachec-Dias was born with a rare liver disease called Billary Atresia.
Because of this she has had to undergo several operations, including a liver transplant, with her first surgery when she was six weeks old.
Majka had the transplant when she was two years old from a living donor – her dad – at King’s College Hospital in London.
After three weeks she had to have more surgery to reconstruct the bile ducts.
Since then she has had many complications, including kidney failure and an early form of cancer called PTLD.
She has been treated with a medium form of chemotherapy and has been on regular medication and watched closely by Jersey and London hospitals.
Agata Jachec-Dias, Majka’s mum, who nominated her, says that although Majka has had a lot of restrictions in her life she is a very active and bright child.
Teachers and peers from Grands Vaux School say that Majka is a courageous six-year-old girl with a positive outlook on life.
‘Majka continues to be a happy, enthusiastic and vibrant member of her class,’ they said.
Name: Georgena Piziura
Age: 16
Parish: St Martin
Nominated by: Andy Harris
A YOUNG youth worker at Maufant Youth Club has been nominated for Young Star of the Year.
Georgena Piziura has been an active member of the club for the past four years.
She has qualified for the young workers programme and works on both junior and interns club nights.
Georgena has given up 400 hours of her time to help out and has been involved in many projects and activities throughout her time there.
In December she was involved in planning a ‘stay awake’ night to raise funds for Jersey Hospice. Georgena raised over £70 from this event.
Andy Harris, who nominated Georgena, says that she finds time to work at the project two nights a week even though she has to contend with her GCSEs and deal with difficult times at home.
‘She is a real credit to both the project and her family, and I strongly feel that she deserves the recognition for the time and ability she gives to the youth project,’ he said.
Georgena is now looking forward to becoming a young trainer within the Youth Service, which involves helping to train young people and new volunteers across the service.
Name: Alice Millen-Swainston
Age: 12
Parish: St Clement
Nominated by: Maryjane Millen Swainston
A YOUNG girl who had her long hair cut to raise money for charity is in the running for Young Star of the Year.
Alice Millen-Swainston spent months doing odd jobs and selling cupcakes to raise money for Age Concern. She also found sponsorship to have her long locks of hair cut off.
Alice had 22 inches of her hair cut off with the help of hairdressers Toni and Guy.She then donated her hair to a charity that makes wigs for children who have lost their hair from illness.
Maryjane Millen Swainston, Alice’s mum, who nominated her, says that they are ‘incredibly proud’ of Alice’s achievements and sacrifice of her long blonde hair.
‘Alice worked tirelessly to raise this money, making her a very special little girl,’ she said.
Alice raised a total of £1,522, which is being put towards a lunch for 300 elederly people on the anniversary of Liberation Day.
Daphne Minihane, Chairman of Age Concern, said: ‘It is an incredible achievement to raise such a huge amount of money, being as she is only 12.’
Name: Thomas Atkinson
Age: 11
Parish: St Saviour
Nominated by: Mrs Maguire
A YOUNG boy who is dedicated to sport and works hard at school has been nominated for a Young Star of the Year Award.
Thomas Atkinson is a key member of the cross-country running team at Janvrin School and he also finds time to put in plenty of training in swimming and cycling.
He has participated in local races sponsored by Aviva, and has also competed in the triathlon. Recently, he travelled to France and England to increase his competitive experience, and did so without missing school.
Mrs Maguire, a teacher at Janvrin School who nominated Thomas, said that he travelled to Rennes in May to take part in the triathlon and still managed to get back to school by Monday morning for lessons.
‘He has remained level-headed throughout, never losing sight of the importance of working hard in the classroom,’ she said.
Thomas finished fifth overall out of 58 competitors when he raced in Portsmouth and he has represented Jersey in inter-insular cross-country events.
Mrs Maguire says he is on the council and the digital team, and is house captain at Janvrin School.
‘He is modest and unassuming but is still happy to undertake extra responsibilities at school,’ she added.
Name: Bryony-Jasmine Ludlow
Age: 10
Parish: St Helier
Nominated by: Jacqueline Hanby
A TEN-year-old girl who is dedicated to her sport has been nominated in the sports category of the Variety Star of the Year.
Bryony-Jasmine Ludlow has been participating in gymnastics since the age of four and attends Mond Gymnastics Academy, spending a great deal of her time training.
On average, she spends 20 hours training a week and receives an additional 18 hours with her British coach, who travels to Jersey every four to six weeks.
Bryony also attends regular training sessions in the UK with the South Region squad.
She has entered many competitions and recently gained her Compulsory Elite Level 3.
Her grandmother, Jacqueline Hanby, who nominated Bryony, said: ‘Training and competing at a high standard are time-consuming, but Bryony still manages to study hard at school and keep her top grades for her studies.’
Bryony has competed against Guernsey in athletics and has represented Jersey in many other competitions, including the Alpha Factor South, where she finished first overall.
Mrs Hanby said that the younger up-and-coming gymnasts look up to her for inspiration.
‘She is a fantastic role model,’ she added.
Name: Bella Smith
Age: 7
Parish: St Saviour
Nominated by: Jo Thorpe
A YOUNG girl who supports Autism Jersey and dedicates her life to her brother has been nominated for a Young Star of the Year Award.
Bella Smith cares for her brother Tom and is ‘an amazing ambassador for Autism Jersey’.
Much of Bella’s life is dictated by her brother’s needs, and she embraces taking part in many of the events that Jersey Autism hold. She gets involved in giving out balloons and leaflets, selling cup-cakes which she baked and decorated herself, or taking guard of the bouncy castle.
Autism Jersey family support manager Jo Thorpe, who nominated Bella, says that they can always rely on Bella to meet people with a lovely smile and a sense of passion and enthusiasm. She said: ‘Bella takes great pride in promoting the charity and raising awareness, giving up whole days of her weekend to support the organisation and her brother.’
Bella’s mother, Celia, is a keen supporter of Caring Cooks and Bella is sous-chef in the preparation of cakes. In the parish cake competition for Children in Need, she entered as part of a team and won. She is also involved in school fundraising activities and helps at all of their events.
Name: Lucy O’Connor
Age: 15
Parish: St Saviour
Nominated by: Jodi Hansford
A YOUNG girl’s hard work and commitment to dance have earned her a nomination for the Young Star of the Year award.
Lucy O’Connor is a Year 10 student at Le Rocquier working towards her BTEC extended certificate in performing arts dance.
Jodi Hansford, a teacher at the school, said that Lucy had a passion for dance and ‘comes alive when she gets on stage and performs’.
‘Lucy puts 100 per cent into everything she does and often stays behind school to practise and help her peers,’ she added. ‘She is always the first in the class and the last one to leave.’
Lucy attends dance classes with Emma Griffiths outside school in tap and modern, and performed seven
pieces in a school dance show.
Recently Lucy was elected Le
Rocquier School head girl, making her a role model for the younger students in the school.
Miss Hansford says she has never known a student to work as hard as Lucy, adding: ‘She is a genuine, warm-hearted, helpful girl.’
Name: Euan McCarthy
Age: 8
Parish: St Helier
Nominated by: Darrell McCarthy
A YOUNG boy who has overcome disability and completed a sponsored walk from the Waterfront to the Gunsite Café has been
nominated for a Pride of Jersey award.
Euan McCarthy was born with no left foot, a clubbed right foot and just two fingers on his left hand.
Darrell McCarthy, Euan’s father, said: ‘Euan had to have casts on his right foot when he was only a few weeks old. He couldn’t enjoy bathtime like his brother and became fearful of water.’
Soon after Euan had his first operation on his right foot, it was arranged for him to have a prosthetic leg fitted, which he loves, his father added.
In 2013 he had two more major operations on his right foot and spent time in a wheelchair. ‘That was a stressful time for us all as a family, but Euan faced it with a smile on his face,’ added Mr McCarthy.
‘Euan has never given up and has participated in all his physical education sessions at school, and in May he completed a sponsored walk. We are all extremely proud of him and his determination never to give up,’ Mr McCarthy added.
Name: Rachel Goncalves
Age: 11
Parish: St Helier
Nominated by: Tricia Barrett
A YOUNG girl who has become an exceptional swimmer after joining a swimming club has been nominated for a Young Star of the Year Award.
Rachel Goncalves is in Year 6 at Springfield School and joined the Sports Development Learn-to-Swim programme in September. She turned up as a ‘total non-swimmer’ with very little experience in the water.
With support from Springfield School and her mother, Theresa, Rachel went on to pass the national curriculum standard for Year 6 pupils.
On top of that, she has encouraged her mother, who was also a non-swimmer, to join adult lessons at Jersey Swimming Club.
Tricia Barrett, Rachel’s swimming teacher, who nominated her, says that she has no doubt that without the school’s swim programme, Rachel would have gone into adulthood as a non-swimmer
‘She has found a great new skill and I
believe it has not only changed her life, but is also changing her mother’s life, too’ she said.
Jersey Swimming Club enables Rachel and her mother to learn to swim together and Rachel passes on the skills that she
has learned to her mother, who is progressing well.
Name: Julia Ford
Age: 8
Parish: St Helier
Nominated by: John Baudains
AN ‘inspirational’ young girl who has supported her mother in her battle against cancer is in the running for the Variety Star of the Year.
Julia Ford has been a big support to her mother, Magdalena, who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer a year ago which resulted in her becoming epileptic.
Julia attends hospital appointments with her mother and has attended many charitable events with her as well. She has also taken part in children’s triathlons and raised £158 for charity.
When Julia learned that her mother would probably lose her hair, she decided that she was going to cut her own off and donate it to a charity that makes wigs for children who lose their hair through cancer and other related illnesses.
She is a great help to her mother and takes on tasks at home, including the cleaning, shopping and preparing meals.
Julia attends a first aid course after school and has contacted emergency services and her neighbour on several occasions when her mother has suffered epileptic seizures.
John Baudains, head teacher at Mont Nicolle School, said that Julia was caring, kind and thoughtful. ‘We are all so proud of her and the way she has been so supportive and level-headed at such a difficult and emotive time in a young child’s life,’ he added.
Name: Emma Preisig
Age: 14
Parish: St Helier
Nominated by: Bob Marshall
A 14-YEAR-OLD girl who took part in a national cooking competition is in the running for Variety Star of the Year.
Emma Preisig won the Jersey heat of the competition in competition against seven other students. The students were given the challenge of producing a three-course meal for two people in two hours.
As a result of Emma’s success, she went on to compete in the Rotary District final in Poole against 11 other students, including two full-time catering-course students at Southampton Technical College.
Emma placed second, with her main course being judged to be the best of all the competitors. She was also praised for her use of local seasonal ingredients.
Emma went into the regional final in Minehead to compete against winners from the whole of the south-west region. She didn’t progress to the national final, but her dessert was judged to be the best of the 11 entrants’.
Rotarian Bob Marshall, who nominated Emma, says that she was competing againststudents up to the age of 18. ‘I think Emma represented Jersey very well indeed,’ he said.
Name: Fern Moolasiwa
Age: 14
Parish: St Helier
Nominated by: Fatima Pinto
A YOUNG girl who couldn’t speak a word of English when she came to Jersey has overcome her language barrier and is in the running for the Variety Star of the Year.
Fern Moolasiwa (14) was born in Thailand and moved to Jersey when she was just seven years old. She didn’t know a word of English when she came and found the language difficult to learn.
School was challenging for her and she had to work far harder than everyone else.
Fatima Pinto, Fern’s grandmother, said: ‘I always hear good things about Fern at school and how well she has done from her close friends, the teachers and her school report.’
‘It makes me very proud to think how far she has come and I really think she deserves this award,’ she added.
Fern even helps her younger sister with her homework as her grandmother also struggles with English, as it is not her first language. She has overcome her challenges and is doing well in her school work.
Fern has recently been accepted into Hautlieu School and her grandmother couldn’t be prouder.
Name: Adam Dalton
Age: 10
Parish: St Clement
Nominated by: Doug Faichnie
AN ‘inspirational’ ten-year-old boy who ‘lets nothing stand in his way’ despite his potentially debilitating disability has been nominated for a Pride of Jersey award.
Bel Royal School pupil Adam Dalton has multiple limb deficiency and was born without forearms or hands and has a prosthetic foot on his right leg.
His serious disability means he will need medical support for the rest of his life, but he refuses to let his condition hold him back.
Doug Faichnie, a close friend of Adam’s mother, Juliette Blanchard, said he was nominating him for the Young Star of the Year category because of his resilient attitude to life.
‘He is challenged from the moment he wakes up,’ said Mr Faichnie.
‘He can’t grab a pencil from his school bag, he can’t open a book and start reading, he can’t play football with his friends.
‘He can’t play tennis and pilot and moor a catamaran, and he certainly can’t ride a horse.
‘Except he can – and he does!
‘Adam does not know what failure is.
‘The reason he is so special is because he accepts that he needs support and insists that nothing will stand in his way.
‘He is my inspiration to better myself.’
Name: Jodie Perkins
Age: 8
Parish: St Helier
Nominated by: Tracy Perkins
A YOUNG girl who cut her hair to raise money for charity is in the running for a Young Star of the Year award.
After watching a clip on the internet, Jodie Perkins decided to cut her long hair for the Little Princess Trust.
The Little Princess Trust makes wigs for children suffering from hair loss through cancer and other related illnesses.
When she was seven, Jodie decided to cut off her hair to raise money for the charity as well as giving them her locks so that they could use it for wigs.
Sarah Perkins, Jodie’s mother, set up a JustGiving page which she shared on social networking sites to raise money for Jodie.
It costs £250 to make each wig and Jodie managed to raise nearly £500 after getting her hair cut in February.
Tracy Perkins, Jodie’s grandmother who nominated her for the award, said: ‘It was a very brave thing for her to do.’
Jodie sent her hair and the money she had raised to the Little Princess Trust and received a certificate for her bravery.
Name: Tom Hughes
Age: 13
Parish: St Helier
Nominated by: Emma McCartan, Mark Loane and Deputy Rod Bryans
A BOY who ran a digital learning day at his school is in the running for a Young Star of the Year award.
Tom Hughes, a pupil at Haute Vallée School, planned an educational day for pupils to teach them about digital media.
Deputy Rod Bryans, who nominated Tom, said that the whole school was ’emotionally lifted because a 13-year-old boy had the audacity to turn his idea into a reality’.
Once Tom had permission from the American Education Board to copy their work and use their logo, he made a pitch to the school’s head teacher.
He even provided a business plan and rescheduled the teachers’ timetable to give them time to help with the event.
And Tom arranged for sponsors and found 13 companies that were willing to provide presenters.
‘His focus was laser-like and successful,’ Deputy Bryans said.
Mark Loane, who also nominated Tom, said that it was refreshing to see a young person having the drive to go out to an industry and request their support.
‘Tom motivates and engages others to help achieve his goals showing his entrepreneurial skills,’ he said.
Name: Hannah Beaugie
Age: 7
Parish: Grouville
Nominated by: Jo Thorpe
A SEVEN-year-old girl who dedicates her life to looking after her severely autistic older brother has been nominated for a Pride of Jersey award.
St Saviour School pupil Hannah Beaugie has been put forward for the Young Star Award for the selfless work she does to learn and understand her nine-year-old brother Jack’s needs.
The young Islander has been nominated by Jo Thorpe, a family support manager for Autism Jersey, who says Hannah is a ‘remarkable young lady’.
Mrs Thorpe said Hannah’s life is dominated by her brother’s autism. Jack is non-verbal and also suffers from a condition known as pica which means he will try to eat many things that are inedible.
‘She dedicates the majority of her time to playing and interacting with Jack and keeping him safe when they are out in the garden,’ Mrs Thorpe said. ‘I cannot impress on people enough the pressure that living with autism brings and the challenge families face on a day-to-day basis. You cannot turn autism off.’
The support worker added that Hannah also helps another autistic boy called Tom when she is at school. ‘She never stops caring and always has a cheeky smile on her face,’ she added. ‘For such a young person to not only cope with this but embrace it, I feel she is worthy of recognition.
Name: Fifine ‘Fifi’ Turner
Age: 10
Parish: St Helier
Nominated by: Emma Turner
A TEN-year-old girl, who has ‘held a family together’ after her elder brother suffered a brain injury during a routine operation, has been nominated for a Young Star of the Year award.
When Fifi Turner was just seven months old her brother Izzy – nine at the time – suffered a serious and debilitating brain injury after going into hospital for small operation on his ear.
The injury to Izzy’s brain has left him blind and with severely impaired cognitive and motor-skills meaning his family have to dedicate their lives to looking after him.
Emma Turner, the siblings’ mother, who nominated Fifi for the award, said her daughter has lived most of her life in a highly-demanding environment.
But despite the family’s struggles, Mrs Turner says her daughter is not ‘selfish, sad or sullen’ but brings light to their home when times are dark.
She added: ‘Izzy, due to his difficulties, can behave inappropriately and has physically hurt Fifi at times and has left her with permanent facial scarring. But she doesn’t blame him. She cheers him up when he’s feeling down, she reads to him and plays games with him. She always talks positively about him and is proud to call him her big brother.
‘Fifi has beenthe glue in this family – I really don’t know if we would have made it through the dark times without her.’
Name: Caleb Owens
Age: 11
Parish: St Clement
Nominated by: Jo Thorpe
A YOUNG boy with a form of autism who has turned his academic performance around since he started lessons at home with his mother is in the running for a Young Star of the Year award.
Caleb Owens (11) struggled to cope with life at school because of his Asperger’s Syndrome. The school environment caused him significant anxiety, and he found it too difficult to learn so his parents, Cath and Tomi, took the bold decision to begin schooling him at home.
Since then, Caleb has gone from strength to strength both in his academic work and social activities.
Jo Thorpe, a family support manager for Autism Jersey, who nominated Caleb for the Young Star award, said that Caleb was doing very well.
‘He has changed so much,’ she added. ‘He is doing very well in his studies but is also learning to play guitar and he is participating in other activities like golf, table tennis, swimming and Jersey Coders on a weekly basis.
‘This has had a profound impact, not only on Caleb but on the entire family.’
The Young Star nominee also took part in a charity walk and raised £45 for Autism Jersey.
Name: Elisha Rose Stott
Age: 10
Parish: St Saviour
Nominated by: Tory Chase Du Mond
A TEN-year-old gymnastics star has been nominated for a Pride of Jersey award for her commitment to the sport, which has meant that she has developed into one of the brightest young talents in Britain.
Grouville School pupil Elisha Stott has been put forward for the Young Star of the Year award by her gymnastics coach Tory De Mond, who says the junior athlete has sacrificed a lot for her success.
Elisha has been training at the De Mond Gymnastics Academy since she was five and is now ranked among the top 25 in Britain.
Miss De Mond said that Elisha trains for at least 20 hours a week, including intense conditioning, stretching and skill sessions
She added: ‘She gives up so much of her time and rarely attends parties or meets up with friends.
Elisha is competing at the highest level. She has recently competed at Elite Level Two among the top gymnasts in Britain, and she is currently ranked second in the South of England and 21st in Britain, which is a tremendous achievement.’
Name: Milo Baudains
Age: 7
Parish: Grouville
Nominated by: Rebecca Baudains
A GROUVILLE School pupil who has been described as ‘one in a million’ has been nominated for a Pride of Jersey award.
Seven-year-old Milo Baudains has been put forward for the Young Star of the Year award by his mother, Rebecca, who says her son goes to great lengths to selflessly care for her on a daily basis.
Mrs Baudains is paraplegic and uses a wheelchair following a horse-riding accident in 1995.
She says her son ‘deserves recognition’ for the day-to-day support he gives her, and added that he has come to her rescue on more than one occasion.
‘Each day, without thinking, Milo helps me do something,’ she said.
‘One day I was getting out of the car when I started falling. Milo came round, leaned on me to stop me from hitting the floor and then used my phone to ring his dad to come home and help.
‘He never let me fall and waited the whole time, reassuring me and stroking my hand until help arrived.’
Mrs Baudains added that after another incident when she broke her hip, Milo spent days at her bedside playing games and keeping her spirits up.
‘He does it without one word of complaint,’ she said. ‘How many other children his age would happily do that? He is one in a million.’
Name: Nicole Gueguen
Age: 10
Parish: St Helier
Nominated by: Lynne Thomas
A TEN-year-old girl who devotes hours of her time to supporting her two disabled sisters is in line to be the Jersey Evening Post and Variety Club Young Star of the Year after she was nominated by her grandmother.
First Tower pupil Nicole Gueguen has been put forward for the Pride of Jersey award for the work she does in helping her parents look after her two sisters, Marie-Claire (2) and Monique (6), who suffer from a form of dwarfism.
Lynne Thomas, Nicole’s grandmother, said the schoolgirl is ‘a proper little star’ and has learned first aid and other skills to help look after her sisters.
Mrs Thomas said that when Nicole, who lives with her parents Angela and Chris, is sometimes left behind in Jersey when her sisters are away in England receiving vital medical care she never complains.
She added that when Nicole herself was in hospital having her appendix removed, her only concern was for the welfare of her sisters.
‘She joined St John Ambulance and learned to resuscitate her baby sister as she had breathing problems,’ Mrs Thomas said.
‘She loves to help her mum and has learned to feed her sister through a tube in her stomach.’
The grandmother added that when a close family friend died from cancer recently, she did a charity run to raise money.
‘She loves to make people happy and she will write beautiful notes to them to bring a smile or bake them a cake,’ she said.
The sponsor: The Co-op
IN a special award, the JEP’s Pride of Jersey Awards are joining forces with children’s charity Variety to find the Island’s Young Star of the Year.
Working together, with the added sponsorship of the Co-op, the search for Jersey’s deserving youngsters will be bigger than ever.
Now in its sixth year, the Variety Award (previously Child of the Year) celebrates six areas of youth achievement: courage, community, carer, sport, arts and academic.
Islanders are asked to nominate any youngsters who they think fit into any of these categories by using the forms printed in the JEP, using the soon-to-be-launched prideofjersey.com website, or by picking up a voting form in any branch of the Co-op.
The Pride of Jersey Awards,- along with the help of JEP readers, will then shortlist three youngsters for each category who will go forward to Variety’s Young Star of the Year Awards in the autumn.
The charity’s chief barker, Sandra Auckland, said: ‘The search is now on to find Jersey’s most deserving children.
‘We need lots of nominations, so please help us to reward young people who don’t get the recognition they deserve.’
Colin Macleod, of the Co-op, said: ‘Partnering Variety on this has been one of the biggest privileges I have had as chief executive.
‘To hear the stories of the incredible children in our community, to understand their courage, their creativity, their unabashed hope, is a special thing.’
WHY THESE AWARDS?
‘By working with the JEP, we are going to get more recognition for the event,’ Mrs Auckland said. ‘And Variety in general will know more about us and what we do in the Island.’
Mr Macleod added: ‘One of the things we have been aware of is not necessarily being able to generate the reach to develop all those stories.
‘We hope we will be able to celebrate many more children with the added reach and power that the JEP brings to this event this year.’
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN THE WINNER?
‘It could be a child who helps a neighbour, or someone who is disabled,’ Mrs Auckland said. ‘They might be overcoming an illness, or be someone who helps in the community.
‘They do it because they want to do it. And we want people to nominate them and get them noticed.’
Mr Macleod added: ‘We have had a wide range of nominations in the past and it’s very difficult to pitch one type of nomination against another.
‘Clearly some will be very touching, but it is also important to recognise those children who are trying to find their place in society, in helping, caring for others, going out of their way to support the community.
‘I am expecting heartbreaking, triumphant and touching stories of the roles that our children play in our society.’
