A teenager from Calverton who beat the bullies to realise her dream of becoming a top chef will be amongst those being recognised at a prestigious youth bravery awards evening later this month.
Caitlin Orchard ,17, is among the ‘super seven’ of young people from across the county who have been named as the district winners of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Outstanding Achievement 4Uth Award for 2018.
The 4Uth awards are a Nottinghamshire County Council initiative to celebrate the achievements of young people across the county. District winners will be celebrated at a ceremony at County Hall on October 26 and the overall county-wide winner will also be announced on the night.
There were approximately 80 nominations for this year’s awards – with entries received from friends, family members, youth workers and people who work in a range of voluntary, public sector and other organisations. Judging panels in each district decided the winners from three nominations in each district, and a separate judging panel assessed the final seven.
Caitlin was nominated for an award by Mohammed Yaseen, a youth worker at Calverton Young People’s Centre. He said he nominated Caitlin because of the way she has overcome problems with bullying and intimidation to learn new skills and begin a career as a chef.
Mohammed said: “Caitlin is a long-time member of Calverton Young People’s Centre who has faced immense obstacles for a 15 year old and became reclusive and socially and emotionally isolated in her family, peer groups and community.
“However, Caitlin remained connected to the centre where she maintained a positive, supportive relationship with her youth worker, Jill, who suggested that she should focus on things she really enjoyed. This led to Caitlin supporting activities in the coffee bar. It wasn’t long before she decided to put together a menu of food and recipes from around the world for young people to try out.”
Caitlin started with simple foods but soon developed her ideas, her piece de resistance being paella. This involvement encouraged young people who began to develop a new found respect for Caitlin which in turn enabled her to experiment with food.
Soon she began to teach other young people in the club to make food from around the world, challenging prejudices about food from abroad in the process, and thus enabling staff to facilitate conversations about equality and diversity in the young people’s centre.
Mohammed added: “Caitlin found her passion and began dreaming about a career in the food and hospitality industry. She soon found part time work in local pubs but was disappointed with the lack of professionalism and desire to cook high quality food.
“Having struggled at school with bullying and discrimination in her community Caitlin never lost sight of her ambition to work in high quality kitchen with real chefs. In March 2018 Caitlin secured a job as a chef at the World’s End Restaurant in Lowdham.”
“Caitlin has said that although she feels like she has finally made it at nearly 17, she will never forget the youth club where she has continued to steam up the kitchen and produce finger licking food for all the young people to try as a volunteer alongside Jill and other youth workers.”
Caitlin lives at home in Salterford Avenue, Calverton with mum Barbara and dad Nigel.
Dad Nigel said: “Caitlin goes to the young people’s centre most nights of the week. Attending the sessions has really given her a lot of confidence and she has a lot of friends there. News of this award has also really boosted her morale. We are so proud.”
Caitlin said: “The last five years at the youth club helped me get through all the sadness I was feeling outside. I realise now that this is an amazing place where young people can go to get help with their problems and maybe find something they love. I think the club is just great.”
Cllr Tracey Taylor, is vice-chairman of the Children and Young People’s Committee, at Nottinghamshire County Council.
She said: “Caitlin has been on a real journey and her involvement with the young people’s centre has clearly helped her to develop as a person as well as learn vital new skills. It is great to hear that she is following her passion to enter the catering and hospitality industry and she is a very worthy recipient of the Gedling district 4Uth award.”
- For more details about the awards visit the Nottinghamshire County Council website: www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/4Uth
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Well done Caitlin, we are so proud of you…