SIXTY-TWO young people from seven secondary schools and five clubs in Colchester received prestigious Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Awards.

The event, at Colchester’s Mercury Theatre, honoured 11 to 25- year-olds who each received a medallion, a framed certificate and cheque for £200.

They were nominated by their peers and leaders, winning for a variety of achievements, but mostly for doing their best.

The Jack Petchey Foundation has awarded £233,500 to youth organisations in Colchester since funding started.

Winners included Callum McKay, 13, from St Helena School. Callum is the fastest under-13 in the UK for the 60m indoor track event and won gold at the Essex School Championships for 100m.

He trains several times a week for about two hours each session and does not allow this to impact on his studies. A grant award to his school was spent on resources for the PE department.

Kayleigh Jones, 17, from Colchester Sixth Form College, is producer on its radio station, Storm.

As well as presenting her show, she helps others with theirs and trains new presenters.

The grant award was spent on a training day for Storm volunteers, covering presenting and interviewing skills and jingle production.

Luke Ashurst, 12, from the Thomas Lord Audley School, Colchester, helped the Year 6 students with their transition from primary to secondary school.

The grant award was spent on new school football kit.

Daniel Blackman,14, from Colchester Royal Grammar School, took it upon himself to arrange a disco which raised more than £700 for the Teenage Cancer Trust. Daniel opted to use the grant award to pay for a specialist rugby coaching session for the school’s under-15 rugby squad, of which he is part.

Scarlett Blacker, 17, from Colchester County High School For Girls, was nominated by a number of teachers for her involvement in various aspects of school life.

The grant award was spent on a residential trip for the school’s European Youth Parliament debating team to the national finals.

VIPs at the event included Mayor of Colchester John Elliott, Colchester’s deputy cabinet ,ember for education and lifelong learning, Sue Lissimore, Chief Insp Richard Phillibrown and Annie Feltham, Colchester councillor responsible for leisure and communities.