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Award holder Dionne Campbell speaking about the impact the Award has had on her and why it is important to support the Award, at its official charity launch

Award holder Dionne Campbell speaking about the impact the Award has had on her and why it is important to support the Award, at its official charity launch

Diana Award seeks partnership with CYP

10 January 2008

On Thursday 8 November, Maggie Turner, Director of the Diana Award, paid a courtesy visit to the CYP Pan-Commonwealth Office in London in the hope of establishing a partnership with the Commonwealth Youth Programme

She was accompanied by Tessy Ojo, the Business and Operations Manager. They met with Dr Fatiha Serour, Director and Head of CYP and Cristal de Saldanha, Advisor for Youth Development.

In this interview, CYP talks to Maggie Turner about the objectives of this prestigious award scheme.

1. When was the Diana Award set up and what is its main objective?

The Diana Award was set up in 1999 by the Government’s Memorial Committee, chaired by Rt Hon. Gordon Brown as an official memorial and celebration of her life.

The Award is for young people who go that extra mile in making a lasting contribution to their friends, families, schools and communities.

2. What is the difference between the Diana Award and the Anti-Bullying Award?

The Diana Award recognises young people who inspire others through the qualities they demonstrate in volunteering; improving the lives of others; or in overcoming adversity. The Anti-Bullying Award recognises the outstanding contribution that young people make in tackling bullying in their schools or communities.

3. Who is eligible for the award? Is the award for UK nominees only or can young people from Commonwealth countries also participate?

For the Diana Award, all young people aged 12-18 are eligible, whereas the Antibullying Award is open to all young people from 5 - 18.

At the moment the Award is open only to UK nominees, but we are currently running a special pilot scheme, working with the Commonwealth Youth Programme and its four Regional Centres, for young people in the Commonwealth to become Diana Award Holders.

4. What do the award winners receive?

Individual Award Holders receive a hand-written certificate, signed by Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, and a Diana Award lapel badge. The nominating organisation or school is also given a certificate to mark its involvement in the Award.

As an Award for Life, Award Holders join a lifelong alumni which supports them to continue with their work through training and networking opportunities and encourages them to be involved in every element of the Award’s development and future.

5. What is the Diana Award’s objective of meeting with the Commonwealth Youth Programme? Is partnership an essential element of the Award scheme?

The Diana Award recognises the enormous contribution that young people make to society and highlights their great potential. Through the establishment of a National Membership Network, the Award encourages its holders to gain expertise and reach their full potential as active citizens who will build the sort of society in which we would all like to live.

In order to achieve this, we believe that it is vital to involve the Award Holders in all aspects of the Award so that they can lead on the development and future of the Award’s sustainability.

A partnership with the Commonwealth Youth Programme would enable us to extend the parameters of the Award internationally to establish a growing community of committed and like-minded young people who can bring universal change.

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