Agenda item

Report of the Director (Finance and Operations) detailing the applications for Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Awards.

Prior to discussing the applications for Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Awards, Members were advised/reminded of the following:

 

1.    One of the starter applications had been withdrawn

2.    Ellen Day had applied for both Exemplar and Improver awards but was ineligible for Exemplar as she did not meet the criteria

3.    The four eligible applications for Exemplar awards were all in the sports category and only one award could be given in each category.  It was within the right of the Board to transfer the unsuccessful applications to the Improver group, although this was not a requirement.

 

Applications had been received in the names of several students for Starter Awards for their work in robotics.

 

Members commented that the applications had not been made by the individuals, but that the school had prepared one application which had been photocopied for each applicant.

 

Each of these applicants had been involved in the project for two years and the Board felt that this made them ineligible to be considered as starters.

 

Applications for Improver Awards had also been received in the names of other students at the same school for the same project.  These too used the same photocopied information which, (it was discovered on checking) with a couple of minor changes, were almost word for word the applications that had been submitted the previous year.

 

Members felt strongly that this did not meet the criteria for applications which should be made by individuals using their own words and explaining their particular needs and aspirations.

 

Whilst it was noted that awards had been made in the previous year for the photocopied applications, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Awards scheme and criteria had changed since then and Members were therefore content that their decision was sound.

 

Members RESOLVED that the applications as detailed above should be REFUSED.

 

Members also asked for the website to emphasise that applicants must:

 

1.    Match the criteria for the level of award.

2.    Complete their own individual application form.  Bulk non-individual applications would not be considered.

3.    Complete the application form in full and not just mark it “refer to attached”.  Supplementary documents would be accepted in addition to the form, not in lieu of.

 

Afolabi Opeoluwa applied for an award for £300 to support him in his sport of Basketball.  Amongst his personal achievement were Most Valuable Player 2015 for his team and Junior Colour Award 2015 for his school.

 

Charlotte Cox applied for an award for £300 to support her in her sport of Netball.  Amongst her personal achievements was Player of the Year Award.

 

Ellen Day applied for an award for £300 to support her in her sport of Football.  Amongst her achievements were a Centre of Excellence place for five consecutive seasons and completing a junior football leaders course..  Ellen also volunteered at Pegasus Football Club helping to coach girls football.

 

Calvin de Villiers applied for an award for £300 to support his sport of athletics.  Amongst his achievements were Gold and Silver medals in disability athletics in regional and national competitions.

 

Aaron Froget applied for an award for his involvement in Top Hat Stage School.  Amongst his achievements was a performance  at the Hertford Theatre in July.  The award would be used to support the half scholarship that he had been awarded.

 

Members noted that the award would not fully support the shortfall in Aaron’s scholarship and they asked officers to highlight this to his school who had provided his reference in the hope that other sources of funding might be found to help.

 

Sophie Julian applied for an award of £300 to support her in her sport of athletics.  Amongst her achievements was qualifying for the National Indoor Games in Sheffield in 2016.

 

Lavigne Leung applied for an award of £300 to support her in her sport of Badminton.  Her achievements include Bronze, Silver and Gold positions in competitions in 2015-2016.  She is due to play an international tournament in Belgium this month.

 

Arabella Moen applied for an award of £300 to support her in her sport of Tennis.  Amongst her achievements were winning two national tournaments and an invitation to GR1 Winter National Finals.

 

Callum Nicholson applied for an award of £300 to support his sport of athletics.  Amongst his achievements were national rankings in 1500m and cross country.

 

Sophie Segum applied for an award of £300 to support her sport of athletics.  Amongst her achievements were a 1^st place in the Hertfordshire County Championship.

 

RESOLVED that Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Awards of £300 be awarded to the above-named applicants.

 

There were four applications for an Exemplar Award, all of which were for the Sports category.

 

The applicants were:

 

            Ellie-Mae Bandy                                 Athletics

Robin Bedford                                     Basketball

Jonathan St Hilaire                             Basketball

Hannah Williams                                 Athletics

 

Ellie-Mae Bandy’s achievements included selection for English Schools Competiton where she reached the final, ranking 2^nd for 400m in the East of England, winning Sprints Performance Award for her club, winning Sportsman of the Year Award twice.  Ellie-Mae has also been nominated for Welwyn Hatfield Volunteer of the Year Award.

 

Robin Bedford’s achievements include captaining the County and East Regional teams, School Premier U16 National Champion and England U16 Squad.

 

Jonathan St Hilaire’s achievements include competing in the National Schools Championship, playing for Herts County U17 and East Regional U17.  Playing in the U16s National League and taking part in England Pathway at U15, U16 and U17.

 

Hannah Williams’ achievements include being a finalist at the World Youth competition in Columbia, being a finalist in the Commonwealth Youth competition in Samoa, being ranked 4^th in the UK 400m U18 all time list and 3^rd in the UKSG 200m and 2^nd at English Schools 200m.

 

Members carefully considered each of the four applications which they agreed met the criteria for an Exemplar award.

 

All four of the applicants had achieved highly in their sport and it was a difficult decision to make, but Members felt that Hannah Williams’ record was particularly impressive and they AGREED that she would receive an Exemplar Award of £500.

 

The website for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Awards states the following:

 

A panel of members will consider the applications.  Please note applicants for an Exemplar Award should also apply for an Improver Award if appropriate, the Grants Board will not automatically place unsuccessful Exemplar applicants into the Improver Category.

 

On this occasion, Members of the Grants Board felt that the applications from Ellie-Mae Bandy, Robin Bedford and Jonathan St Hilaire showed that their achievements were of a high standard and they felt that it would be unreasonable not to place them into the Improver Category, although not obliged to do so.

 

It was therefore AGREED that Ellie-Mae Bandy, Robin Bedford and Jonathan Hilaire should receive an Improver Award of £300 each.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.    That there would be no Starter Awards given

2.    That Improver Awards  of £300 each would be paid to the following:

a.    Afolabi Opeoluwa

b.    Charlotte Cox

c.    Ellen Day

d.    Calvin de Villiers

e.    Aaron Froget

f.     Sophie Julian

g.    Lavigne Leung

h.    Arabella Moen

i.      Callum Nicholson

j.      Sophie Segun

k.    Ellie-Mae Bandy

l.      Robin Bedford

m.   Jonathan St Hilaire

3.    That an Exemplar Award of £500 would be paid to Hannah Williams