AMAZING acts of community spirit from young people were showcased at a special event in Thornbury last night.

Hundreds packed into the Armstrong Hall for the Thornbury Youth Showcase, which offered the town’s youth, and their families, the chance to find out more about the many groups and organisations for young people in the town.

Among the many in attendance was Thornbury-based youth club Krunch, charities Jigsaw and Incredible Kids, Circadian Trust, Phase, army, navy and air cadets, and several scouting and sports groups from the town.

“I am absolutely blown away by the number of people here tonight,” said Thornbury mayor Cllr Helen Harrison.

“It is really encouraging to see so many people, and so many families, coming out to celebrate the achievements of young people in Thornbury.

“The Youth Showcase aims to promote all the opportunities open to our younger generation and it looks like everyone is taking the chance to find out something new.

As well as the many stalls around the hall, crowds were entertained by performances from street dance group BALPA and numbers from Northavon Youth Theatre Company's recent production of Hairspray.

The focal point of the evening was the presentation of the Mayor’s Youth Awards, which were reintroduced by Cllr Harrison, having last been awarded in 2013.

More than 40 nominations were put forward for the three categories, Key Stage One and Two (KS1/2), Key Stage Three (KS3) and Key Stage Four and above (KS4+), with an additional category also being introduced to represent many of the groups of young people that have helped make a difference in Thornbury.

Cllr Harrison said: “The reason I decided to relaunch the awards was because I know that so many amazing things go on in the town, and aren’t always recognised, so this was a chance to celebrate these truly remarkable acts.

“But when it came to judging the awards, it was really tough to whittle down some winners.

“Everyone who is nominated has done something very special and we should be proud of each and every one of them.”

Each nominee was awarded a special certificate to acknowledge their efforts, with winners being announced at the end, receiving a trophy and £50 towards a good cause of their choice.

The category winners were:

  • KS1/2: Clemmie Bassett
  • KS3: Bethan Jenkinson
  • KS4+ and overall winner of the Mayor’s Youth Award: Ellen O’Brien
  • Team award: Thornbury Skate Park

Presenting the awards at the event was Dame Janet Trotter, Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, who praised the town for putting on such a “marvellous evening”.

She said: “It is so nice to see young people come together and have the whole community acknowledge what they do.

“What came through is the variety of different contributions they are putting into Thornbury. I hope that this brilliance that has been on display can really develop and flourish as they get older.”