In a year that has been difficult for so many, the achievements of outstanding young people were celebrated at the annual Do The Right Thing, Young Citizen of the Year Awards.  

A virtual ceremony was held on 2 July featuring performances from The John Roan Jazz Band and Thorntree Nursery & Reception classes, as well as speeches and awards given to nine winners and 24 runners up.  

Judges were inundated with worthy nominees, and picking a winner was a tough task as all are a credit to their school, family and community. 

This year’s categories included: 

• Resilience during the pandemic  
• Bravery 
• Community Role Model 
• Young Carer/Family Supporter 
• Personal Achievement to Learning 
• Overcoming Barriers 
• Peer Support 
• Inspiration to Others 
• Shea French-Gibbens Young Disabled Person of the Year Award. 

The evening was opened by Councillor Leo Fletcher, the Deputy Mayor of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, with Councillor Danny Thorpe, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, later giving a speech and Councillor Matt Morrow, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Young People also in attendance.  

Cllr Morrow said after the event: “All the winners, and indeed the nominees, at this year’s Do The Right Thing Award have shown outstanding resilience and bravery in what has been a tremendously tough year for us all. 

“It was truly humbling to hear their stories, and I was delighted to help celebrate all of their wonderful achievements.  

“We are always looking to celebrate our young people. We think this is a wonderful place to grow up and we are lucky to have so many inspirational young people in our borough.” 

One of the parents said after the event: “Thank you so much for the awards evening, it was really lovely, genuine and engaging. I hope you could see that it really meant something to my son (and his family) too. Congratulations on an uplifting and caring event!” 

The event was jointly sponsored by Royal Greenwich and The Canary Wharf Contractors Fund, who are long-standing supporters of the Awards. The Canary Wharf Contractors Fund supports people, communities and organisations local to the Canary Wharf Estate.