KYT Awards 2020
Every year the Kenelm Youth Trust want to recognise and award individuals who have demonstrated their passion and commitment to youth ministry within the Archdiocese.
The 2020 Kenelm Youth Trust Awards have been awarded to some amazing individuals who not only have supported, encouraged and inspired young people during their faith journey but have done so during the extraordinary times we have all encountered with the pandemic.
We would like to thank all the people who nominated, who have been nominated and our Awardees for their dedication and passion to youth ministry.
We are pleased to announce the KYT Awardees for 2020 are as follows:
Alton Volunteer of 2020
This year it had been decided that the Alton Volunteer award would not go to one individual but a team of volunteers. This group of young adults who, despite COVID, remained at Alton for the summer of 2020 and used social media platforms to proclaim the Joy of the Gospel. They created a positive presence on Tik Tok, delivered engaging online sessions, shared and deepened their own spirituality with resources from parishes and schools. In addition to their social media presence, they worked around the centre, making spaces more welcoming for when young people return. Their on-going commitment has had a positive impact on the lives of many young people, supporting their well-being and life of faith, throughout the Archdiocese and beyond. The Alton Volunteer of 2020 Award goes to the ‘Quaranteam’.
The ‘Quaranteam’ are:
Rebecca Palsar
Lucas Weaver
Beth Mitchell
Jair Jesus de Paulo Jr
Felicity Hawley
Rebecca Mills
James Dwyer
Ginny Murray
Parish Volunteer of 2020
Annette Stevens
Volunteer Youth Minister
St John the Baptist Catholic Parish, Tamworth
Annette is a vital part of the youth ministry team at St John the Baptist Catholic Parish in Tamworth. Annette is very skilled and reliable. Before COVID, Annette would attend at least two youth clubs a week, multiple trips, special events, sleepovers, camps and all night ‘stay-awake-athons’. Over lockdown Annette was attending at least three virtual youth group sessions a week and would often join additional sessions. Annette is one of those people you can go to if you just need a chat, the parish is extremely lucky for all that she does for youth ministry and is an incredible example in Pope Francis’s call to accompany and journey with young people.
Lay Chaplain of 2020
Rebecca Gradwell
St Joseph’s College, Stoke-on-Trent
Rebecca has developed her role as Lay Chaplain while at St Joseph’s College. Some achievements and activities for Rebecca have been leading and organising day retreats and residential retreats, training a team of Year 13 students to lead a retreat, planning liturgical life in school and ensuring diversity of worship and liturgy. During lockdown Rebecca has also learnt to produce her own videos which the students have found to be a source of solace and positivity during those difficult months.
Lay Chaplain COVID Award 2020
Samantha Downes
Our Lady of Lourdes, Redditch
During the first lockdown, Samantha provided daily uplifts with religious scripture, videos, prayers and reflections which helped staff, pupils and parents during a difficult time. She has produced outstanding video based collective worship resources which she has shared across the MAC. Sam has continued with the school’s charitable work and initiated a collection of toiletries for homeless people in Birmingham for the local SVP group which proved to be very successful.
Lay Chaplain- Long Service Award
Pat Sowter
Painsley Catholic College, Cheadle.
Pat has worked at Painsley Catholic College for over 20 years. In this time Pat tirelessly puts the needs of pupils first. During 2020 Pat had reached out to our Parish Links to help support them with prayer packages from the students and supported the students to be involved in outreach dramas used by the local parishes. Pat also continued to run the Rainbow Group, a bereavement group for students who have suffered tragic losses in their families. Pat worked one-to-one and in small groups with these young people to support them and provide comfort and guidance. Pat has always been an inspiration to the students at Painsley Catholic College.
The 2020 Kenelm Youth Trust Awards have been awarded to some amazing individuals who not only have supported, encouraged and inspired young people during their faith journey but have done so during the extraordinary times we have all encountered with the pandemic.
We would like to thank all the people who nominated, who have been nominated and our Awardees for their dedication and passion to youth ministry.
We are pleased to announce the KYT Awardees for 2020 are as follows:
Alton Volunteer of 2020
This year it had been decided that the Alton Volunteer award would not go to one individual but a team of volunteers. This group of young adults who, despite COVID, remained at Alton for the summer of 2020 and used social media platforms to proclaim the Joy of the Gospel. They created a positive presence on Tik Tok, delivered engaging online sessions, shared and deepened their own spirituality with resources from parishes and schools. In addition to their social media presence, they worked around the centre, making spaces more welcoming for when young people return. Their on-going commitment has had a positive impact on the lives of many young people, supporting their well-being and life of faith, throughout the Archdiocese and beyond. The Alton Volunteer of 2020 Award goes to the ‘Quaranteam’.
The ‘Quaranteam’ are:
Rebecca Palsar
Lucas Weaver
Beth Mitchell
Jair Jesus de Paulo Jr
Felicity Hawley
Rebecca Mills
James Dwyer
Ginny Murray
Parish Volunteer of 2020
Annette Stevens
Volunteer Youth Minister
St John the Baptist Catholic Parish, Tamworth
Annette is a vital part of the youth ministry team at St John the Baptist Catholic Parish in Tamworth. Annette is very skilled and reliable. Before COVID, Annette would attend at least two youth clubs a week, multiple trips, special events, sleepovers, camps and all night ‘stay-awake-athons’. Over lockdown Annette was attending at least three virtual youth group sessions a week and would often join additional sessions. Annette is one of those people you can go to if you just need a chat, the parish is extremely lucky for all that she does for youth ministry and is an incredible example in Pope Francis’s call to accompany and journey with young people.
Lay Chaplain of 2020
Rebecca Gradwell
St Joseph’s College, Stoke-on-Trent
Rebecca has developed her role as Lay Chaplain while at St Joseph’s College. Some achievements and activities for Rebecca have been leading and organising day retreats and residential retreats, training a team of Year 13 students to lead a retreat, planning liturgical life in school and ensuring diversity of worship and liturgy. During lockdown Rebecca has also learnt to produce her own videos which the students have found to be a source of solace and positivity during those difficult months.
Lay Chaplain COVID Award 2020
Samantha Downes
Our Lady of Lourdes, Redditch
During the first lockdown, Samantha provided daily uplifts with religious scripture, videos, prayers and reflections which helped staff, pupils and parents during a difficult time. She has produced outstanding video based collective worship resources which she has shared across the MAC. Sam has continued with the school’s charitable work and initiated a collection of toiletries for homeless people in Birmingham for the local SVP group which proved to be very successful.
Lay Chaplain- Long Service Award
Pat Sowter
Painsley Catholic College, Cheadle.
Pat has worked at Painsley Catholic College for over 20 years. In this time Pat tirelessly puts the needs of pupils first. During 2020 Pat had reached out to our Parish Links to help support them with prayer packages from the students and supported the students to be involved in outreach dramas used by the local parishes. Pat also continued to run the Rainbow Group, a bereavement group for students who have suffered tragic losses in their families. Pat worked one-to-one and in small groups with these young people to support them and provide comfort and guidance. Pat has always been an inspiration to the students at Painsley Catholic College.
