Two exceptional students from Hadleigh have been honoured at the Suffolk Hope Awards.

Faith Freeland Jones and Zoe Hawyes from Hadleigh High School, were selected as winners in the Key Stage Three winners.

Faith scooped the Respect and Kindness category, while Zoe was chosen in the Determination section.

Determined: Zoe Hawyes presnted with her prize (Picture: Suffolk Police)

Meanwhile, Hadleigh High was named the overall school winner in South Suffolk and were attributed with a prizes in recognition of their contribution and support to this year's Hope Awards.

Youngsters from across the county were selected as winners awards picking up prizes from the Ipswich Town Foundation.

The winners of the 2021/2022 awards were announced as Suffolk Police, supported by the County Council, launch Suffolk Hope 3, asked for nominations for next year's awards.

The Suffolk Hope Award values and categories promote diversity, acts of respect and kindness and everyone nominated showed excellent demonstrations of teamwork and determination. 

It is all part of the annual Hate Crime Awareness campaign, which has coincided with both the launch and the announcement of last year's winners.

This campaign is a reminder for us all that we do not accept Hate in Suffolk. The school liaison team spent the week visiting schools and discussing hate crime awareness, including how to identify and report hate crime and how to support those who are victims of it. 

Hope Awards (Picture: Suffolk Police)

The winners came from each academic key stage group and are as follows:

Key Stage Three

Respect and Kindness: Faith Freeland Jones, Hadleigh High School

Diversity: Izzy Gowing and Margaret Bennett, Newmarket Academy 

Determination: Zoe Hawyes, Hadleigh High School

Teamwork: Winner still to be notified

Key Stage Four

Teamwork: Mabel Stocker, Miriam Bursell, Grace Mitson, Freya Baird, Olivia Webb, Tilly Drakard-Lester, Seth Loader, Molly O'Leary, Ellis Beetles, Darcy Hertz, Ryn Pitson & Esther Lawson of Stour Valley Community School

Diversity: Daniel Jillings, Bungay High School

Determination: Benjamin Travasso, Woodbridge School

Suffolk One Hope Awards

Sixth Form and College Winners

Diversity: Jayden Ajadi, Jordan Rose, Fahima Mehzabin, Clarissa Chan, Princess Anchra, Leticia Sousa, Angel Howard, Juliette Porter, Hannah Bradbury, Eniola Olaleye, Despoina Goudousaki, Abi Abidoye, Keona Scaife

Determination: Eleanor Abbott, Suffolk One

Respect and Kindness: Winner still to be notified

Overall school winners:

East Suffolk: Bungay High School 

South Suffolk: Hadleigh High School

West Suffolk: Thomas Gainsborough School

Overall school winners for South Suffolk

The judging panel for 2021/22 represented Community Safety Partnerships …

• Suffolk Constabulary DCC Rob Jones and Inspector Kirsty Graefe

• Ipswich Community Safety Partnership Chair: Ipswich Borough Councillor Alasdair Ross

• Suffolk High Sheriff: Edward Creasy 

• Suffolk FA: James Morley 

• Suffolk Guide Dogs Association: Emma Free

• Outreach Youth: George Clark

Inspector Kirsty Graefe, South Neighbourhoods & Partnership Team, Suffolk Police, said: "It was a privilege to sit on the panel and hear the amazing and inspirational stories of kindness and selfless bravery of our young people in schools across Suffolk. It was exceptionally difficult to select winners as they were all worthy of awards. Congratulations to all who were nominated.

Councillor Alasdair Ross, Chair of the Community Safety Partnership, said: "These awards show again that during the pandemic, how many of our younger residents stepped forward to give hope to others. Not only have these exceptional pupils found impressive ways to help others in their community, but they have also inspired many of their fellow pupils to also get involved and help."

George Clark, Outreach Youth Ipswich Youth Worker, said: "What a remarkable collection of young people. They should all be very proud of their positive attitudes and the decency they show towards others in sometimes the most difficult of circumstances. Everyone can learn from these stories and help make the world a more respectful and kinder place, no matter who you are."

James Morley, Football Development Officer (Retention), said: "All nominees were very deserving of their nomination and it was another hard decision to pick a winner. With the standard of the young people being so high, Suffolk are in good hands. Congratulations to all."

Meanwhile, please start nominating youngsters for next year's awards (Hope 3).

Organisers are keen to hear about yet more stories of kindness, respect teamwork and determination. If you know of a young person who has gone above and beyond, put others before themselves, shown initiative and resilience or formed part of a team working towards a mutual goal to benefit the community please go to the Suffolk Police website and complete the nomination form. It only takes a moment and can have a lasting positive affect on a young person. 

The nomination process is now open until Friday 24th February 2023.