The Awards, sponsored by McCormicks Solicitors of Harrogate, raise money for the Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation which provides direct support to young people, and projects helping those young people, across the Yorkshire region. Grants already made include £12,000 to Candlelighters to provide equipment for the children’s cancer unit at Leeds General Infirmary; a grant to a young athlete from Northallerton towards his training; and a grant to the leading education charity, Teach First, to pay for the training of a teacher at Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College in Bradford.
Awards Chairman Peter McCormick OBE said: “We have been overwhelmed by the level of support the Awards have received, especially in this difficult economic climate. Not only do we have fantastic sponsors, a number of whom have been with us for many years, but we continue to see more than 400 attendees at the Awards dinner every year.
“We are particularly proud that this is the net figure raised. We operate a very tight ship and we ensure that as much as possible of the funds we raise is for the direct benefit of deserving young people in Yorkshire.
“Our grants programme is under way and we will be reporting new donations to a variety of projects in coming months.”
A host of Yorkshire stars have taken Awards over the years, such as Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh, top Leeds band the Kaiser Chiefs, Leeds Rhinos captain Kevin Sinfield, and England cricketers Michael Vaughan and Tim Bresnan. Two former Youngsters of the Year, George Stocker and Jack Marshall, have both been selected to carry the Olympic Torch in the region this summer.
The Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation was established in 2010 to mark the Awards’ 18th anniversary. Prior to that, money raised went to a children’s charity working in Yorkshire.
Nominations for the 2012 Awards will open in May and this year’s dinner takes place at the Leeds United Centenary Pavilion on Thursday 29 November. More details are available at www.yorkshireyoungachievers.co.uk.