Inspirational Teen Recognised for Community Dedication
A remarkable young volunteer from Broxtowe has been celebrated for his exceptional contributions to the local community at Nottinghamshire's prestigious 4UTH Awards ceremony. Archie Matthews was not only named as one of eight district winners but also received the honour of being crowned the countywide champion for his outstanding achievements.
Dedication Beyond Measure
The talented teenager was nominated for his extensive volunteering work, which spans both his local youth club and St John's Ambulance. At his youth club, Archie consistently goes above and beyond to create a welcoming and safe environment for other young people. His hands-on approach includes painting the club during half-term breaks, dismantling old furniture, setting up game consoles and activities, and always being the first to volunteer his help.
His commitment extends to his role as an active volunteer for Derbyshire St John's Ambulance, where he trains other young people in vital first aid skills and works at local events. Archie's leadership qualities have seen him appointed as a regional representative on the East Midlands St John's young persons' board and the Lord Lieutenant's cadet representative for Derbyshire. His dedication even earned him the opportunity to meet the Princess Royal while representing the service.
Well-Deserved Recognition
Upon receiving the countywide award, Archie expressed his excitement, stating: "It feels absolutely incredible. Not just to win, but to be able to come and be a part of the competition and see what other people in my community have achieved, adds it all up and makes it such an amazing experience."
Youth Service Senior Practitioner Paul Bailey, who runs the youth club Archie attends and nominated him for the award, shared his pride in the young achiever. "It's a great feeling to see Archie get recognition, and it's well deserved," Bailey said. "The amount of work he's put in and the length of time that he's committed to working in both the community and the youth club – it's come to fruition. I'm really pleased."
Bailey added with considerable experience: "It means a lot to me – I've worked at the centre for 21 years, and I probably haven't had anyone else as deserving as Archie in that time."
Celebrating Young Excellence
The annual event, held at County Hall, brought together the county's eight district winners and their families for an evening of celebration. The ceremony featured videos highlighting each winner's achievements, musical performances from Inspire Youth Art's Will Hickman and Meryx, and speeches from members of Youth Parliament and the Nottinghamshire young people's board.
Councillor Rory Green, the county council's Cabinet Member for Children and Families, praised all the nominees: "The event tonight shows us how adversity can spark greatness, and it is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the resilience and compassion of Nottinghamshire's young people. The winners tonight are role models, and forces for change, in both their own lives, and those around them."
The competition saw 117 nominations received for the awards, with all nominated young people receiving a certificate, nomination star and letter acknowledging their achievements from Nottinghamshire County Council's Head of Youth Services, Pom Bhogal. Approximately 100 guests attended the celebration, including members of the youth service and County Council Madam Chairman, Jan Goold, and Leader of the council, Councillor Mick Barton.
