Active Citizen and Participation Awards 2025

Merthyr Tydfil’s Academy of Success held its awards ceremony on Thursday 12th June 2025 at Merthyr Tydfil Football Club. The awards recognise the successes of young people, aged 11-25, and organisations across Merthyr Tydfil County Borough.

The Youth Service is committed to developing independent and active citizens and these awards are an excellent way to showcase young people’s achievements through participation in extra-curricular activities.

The event was opened by Her Worship, the Mayor, Paula Layton, and the guest speaker was Corey Shemwell, a previous Chair of the Youth Cabinet of Merthyr Tydfil, who inspired the audience with his personal story and the positive impact being involved in the Youth Cabinet has had on his confidence and career prospects.

The comperes representing the young people of Merthyr Tydfil for the evening were members of Merthyr Tydfil’s Youth Cabinet. The atmosphere on the night was exciting, the proceedings run seamlessly, and the young people really enjoyed hosting the highly successful youth led event. Youth Mayor Jacob Bridges said it was: “An absolute privilege and honour to have been able to attend this year’s Academy of Success Awards and to hear so many inspiring stories from the young people. It goes to show that Merthyr Tydfil contains a determined, hard-working and amazing generation”.

The event organisers within Safer Merthyr Tydfil and Merthyr Tydfil Borough Wide Youth Forum received high levels of positive feedback with one individual stating that “a valuable opportunity for young people with additional needs to participate alongside their peers”, while another expressed delight in witnessing “such a range of organisations receiving awards”.

These awards celebrate the success and achievements of our hard-working young people, many of whom do not recognise in themselves how incredibly talented, inspiring and supportive they are.

There were 12 awards in total and the winners were as follows:

• Young Achiever of the Year – Cian Evans, Greenfields School
• Provision of the Year – Merthyr Tydfil Scouts
• Volunteer of the Year 11-16 – Jay Smart, Treharris Boys and Girls Club
• Volunteer of the Year 17-25 – Laci Roberts, Merthyr Valley Homes Youth Provision
• Duke of Edinburgh – Young Leader – Iwan Clarke, Merthyr Tydfil Scouts, and Deryn Allen-Dyer, O’Oshimeyo Judo
• Outstanding Volunteer in a Youth Work Setting – Callum Davies, Treharris Boys and Girls Club
• Group Project: “Tackling Personal and Social Issues that affect Young People’– Youth Inc, Treharris Boys and Girls Club
• Group Project: “Creative industries, art, culture and media”– SL2 Escape the past, Greenfield School
• Youth Sport Award of the Year – Adaptive Judo Team, O’Oshimeyo Judo
• Eco Project of the Year – Greenfield School’s Eco committee, Greenfield School
• Best Innovative Award of the Year – Wildlife in the Community, Inspire2achieve
• Outstanding Use of the Welsh Language Award – Deryn Allen-Dyer, The URDD

Congratulations to all the young people nominated for an award this year, you should all be incredibly proud of your hard work and commitment. Heartfelt thanks go to everyone who attended and supported this year’s Academy of Success, as well as to all those who contributed to making the event a resounding success.