Great Yarmouth organisations recognised at Norfolk Flourish Awards event

At this week's awards ceremony, people from across Norfolk gathered to celebrate the people, projects, teams and organisations that have made outstanding contributions to help children and young people in Norfolk flourish.

Morgan's Academy of Dance was the overall winner in the Individual category and The Bread Kitchen was a finalist in the Resilience category.

Hosted by the Norfolk Children and Young People's Strategic Alliance (CYPSA), the awards received more than 300 nominations, with 160 different nominees shortlisted. Eight winners were announced across the categories, with 16 other finalists.

Morgan's Academy of Dance was set up 18 months ago and is run by Jade Morgan. The dance school operates out of Cobholm Community Centre and The Dance Base in Great Yarmouth and the Old School Village Centre in Bradwell. It runs 28 classes a week and has 120 students on its books, from two and half years old through to adults.

Ms Morgan said: ''I'm absolutely overwhelmed to have won this award. I was delighted to even be nominated as a finalist. I certainly didn't expect to win and am so happy. I love teaching the classes and this is a real honour.''

The Bread Kitchen provides support and opportunities to help people change their lives by encouraging them to raise their aspirations. It is developing a new site in Cobholm, and works across the borough on a range of projects offering Alternative Provision for schools, activities and qualifications for home-educating families as well as volunteering opportunities and training in horticulture and animal care, employability and math and English functional skills.

The Bread Kitchen's co-founder and director, Cathy Cordiner-Achenbach, said: "We were honoured to be finalists in the Flourish Awards' Resilience category. Supporting children and young people to be resilient in the challenges life throws at them has always been at the heart of our work. We have an excellent team of staff, volunteers and partners who work tirelessly to help our participants achieve their goals."

The event also saw young people take centre stage as five young people hosted and presented the awards, receiving training from Norwich Theatre Royal to act as comperes for the evening. Norfolk County Council's Jazz Quintet also played at the awards.

Councillor Emma Flaxman-Taylor, portfolio holder for housing, health and communities at Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: "We have so many individuals and groups who devote their energy and time to making a difference to the lives of young people in our borough and it is fantastic that Morgan's Academy of Dance and The Bread Kitchen have been recognised for their achievements. We're extremely proud of them and the work they do. They are a credit to Great Yarmouth.''

Sara Tough, Chair of CYPSA, said: "It's been such a joy to recognise the work happening across Norfolk to help children and young people flourish. The projects honoured are all so varied, innovative and effective. I've really been overwhelmed to see the impact that these people and projects have on children and young people in Norfolk."

The awards ceremony was supported by Norse Group, New- U, Norwich City Football Club and Norwich Community Support Foundation, Norfolk Music Hub and Norwich Theatre Royal and Big Sky Creative.

Winners were selected by a panel of young people and parent carers from a variety of participation groups including the Youth Advisory Boards, DRAGONs, Family Voice Norfolk, Unity, The Matthew Project, NSFT Participation and the Norfolk In-Care Council.