Young people from across the borough picked up prestigious awards for a host of outstanding achievements and contributions.
More than 100 pupils from Barking and Dagenham secondary schools, Trinity School, the Erkenwald Centre, and Barking and Dagenham College were honoured at the annual Jack Petchey Achievement Awards.
The event, held at Barking’s Broadway Theatre, on Tuesday, saw around nine students and one adult leader from each school receive a medal and £200 to spend on their school.
There were massive cheers from the crowd as they took to the stage and compere Philip Allinson read out inspirational stories about every winner.
Some pupils had overcome adversities to make progress in lessons, said Philip, while others had excelled in a particular field, from table tennis to drama.
There were also touching stories of young people supporting their peers and giving up their free time to help others in the community.
The presentations were interspersed with a variety of music and dance acts, including particular stand-out performances from Warren School singer Jamie-Lee Kiff and Barking and Dagenham College dancers.
Barking and Dagenham Mayor Cllr Anthony Ramsay, who spoke at the bash, told the Post: “These young people are absolutely remarkable - they’re an inspiration to us all.
“It’s fantastic that we have such awards so their achievements, which have not always come in easy circumstances, are recognised.”
The Jack Petchey Foundation was established in 1999, and gives grants to programmes and projects benefiting young people aged 11 to 25 across London and Essex.
Copies of last week’s Barking and Dagenham Post were distributed at the awards ceremony free of charge courtesy of Vicarage Field Shopping Centre.
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