Levelling the Playing Field has announced the shortlisted nominees for our 2023 London regional awards! 

The awards event takes place at the flagship DECATHLON store in Surrey Quays, London on 1 March and will celebrate staff, role models, leaders and young people from across the LtPF network who have shown dedication, overcome adversity, inspired others and impacted positively on their community. 

The awards ceremony will be followed by a day of fun, celebration and sport, including virtual reality golf, yoga, table tennis and tennis on the store's spectacular open-air rooftop courts overlooking Canada Water! 

Winners will also get vouchers to spend in store and prizes from our funders London Marathon Charitable Trust. 

The shortlisted nominees are: 

YOUNG PERSON OF THE YEAR

Ceren Temur - Palace for Life Foundation

"Her passion for the game and persistent desire to better herself has a positive impact upon the other young females at the session."

Josie Furner - London Thunder Basketball Club

"She is a quiet, thoughtful leader who is also fiercely competitive and never gives up even when the going gets tough."

Cecilia Victorious - London Thunder Basketball Club

"We are proud to have her in our team and see a bright future ahead for her."

Richard Kiala - London Thunder Basketball Club

"Richard is a young player who keeps developing his already remarkable skills, no matter which obstacles come along."

ROLE MODEL OF THE YEAR

Angel O'Dwyer - Palace for Life Foundation

"Angel is empathetic, professional and passionate, which seeps into any young person she works with."

Emma Burdon - Urban Yogis

"A key deliverer and developer of our combined yoga and positive relationships workshops.. Her work has had a real positive impact."

Stephen Donnelly - Fight 4 Change

"He lives on the estate next to the gym and knows first hand the issues faced by the young people in the area, as he has faced them all."

Reahana Gordon - Fight 4 Change

"Reahana is ‘like a cool big sister’ to young people at Fight 4 Change. Her influence as a mentor is so strong because she’s walked in their shoes."

Alisha Pilai - Centre of Change Counselling Service

"Alisha really invests in her mentees' well-being by listening to their needs and modelling the behaviours and boundaries she requires from them."

Abdi Hassan - Street Soccer London

"Abdi is now one of our most reliable, consistent and well-liked coaches having been introduced to the programme as a youth player in 2020."

YOUNG COHORT OF THE YEAR

Under-16s girls' team - London Thunder Basketball Club

"We are nominating this group because of the support and mentorship they have shown to each other and all the younger players in the club."

Youth programme cohort - Street Soccer London

"The sense of community they have felt and created has made their early experience of seeking asylum in this country a very pleasurable one which cannot be said for many." 

PARTNERSHIP OF THE YEAR AND SPECIALIST PARTNER OF THE YEAR

These award-winners will be selected by a panel from Levelling the Playing Field's strategic partners