Vincentian among final Queen’s Young Leaders awardees

Her Majesty The Queen has presented Vincentian Jodie Dennie with a Queen’s Young Leaders Award at a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace, London.

Dennie received a Queen’s Young Leaders Award for the work she is doing to champion the issue of mental health in her community.

Dennie, 29, said: “Thank you for this award. I feel honoured to receive it from Her Majesty The Queen for the work that I am doing in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. I am grateful for the experience of being in the UK and meeting people who are doing amazing work to improve the lives of others. I am thankful to be a part of the Queen’s Young Leaders network.”

As a Queen’s Young Leader, Dennie has gained access to bespoke mentoring and training through the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Continuing Education, designed to develop their leadership skills further and ensure they are best placed to lead the way in the future to tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues.

Dennie was among youth from 38 countries across the Commonwealth to celebrate their Queen’s Young Leaders Award with guests including Sir John Major, David Beckham, Sir Lenny Henry, Nicola Adams, Neelam Gill, Caspar Lee, Tina Daheley and Ore Oduba

Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined award winners at the final Queen’s Young Leaders Awards ceremony at Buckingham Palace, London

The Queen’s Young Leaders Awards programme, now in its fourth and final year, celebrates the achievements of some of the most exciting young change-makers from across the Commonwealth. This year’s cohort from 38 Commonwealth countries are finding solutions to global issues such as climate change, food scarcity, gender-based violence, mental health, and access to education.

Speaking at the Awards ceremony, His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex, who was recently named a Commonwealth Youth Ambassador said: “In this rapidly changing world, it is heartening to meet so many inspiring young people gathered here today, who have already stepped up as leaders and improved the lives of so many people across the Commonwealth. You are the hope and optimism the world needs and we will all do whatever we can to support you in it.”

David Beckham said: “I’m so proud to be here with the Queen’s Young Leaders tonight. It’s really inspiring to meet these hardworking young people, who continue to dedicate their time and energy to helping other people live a better life. Hearing their stories and the sacrifices they’ve made is a real honour and I feel very privileged to celebrate with them today.”

Sir John Major KG CH, Chairman of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust said:

“I extend my warmest congratulations to all the 2018 Queen’s Young Leaders. Together with our Award Winners from the last three years, they complete a unique, 240-strong cohort of Young Leaders from all across the Commonwealth. This is such an invaluable resource for the Commonwealth that The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust will be launching a legacy fund, to ensure that our support and encouragement to our Young Leaders will continue beyond the lifetime of the Trust.

Each and every one of our 240 Young Leaders is a remarkable and exceptional young person, who I have no doubt will play an important role in shaping our future world. It has been an absolute privilege and delight to get to know them.”

The now complete Queen’s Young Leaders network forms a unique, dedicated and powerful group of young people from 53 Commonwealth countries who will connect, collaborate and change lives together for years to come. To further support them in their future endeavours, a £200,000 Legacy Fund has been created. It will be open to all 240 Queen’s Young Leaders and 282 highly commended runners-up to apply for grants that will help elevate their work and enable them to work together to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing the Commonwealth.