GET INSPIRED Black excellence: Top children’s charity celebrates 20 years of honouring young people AdminJuly 30, 2025011 views A TOP children’s charity is celebrating after marking 20 years of honouring young Black excellence in west London. Descendants, an award-winning charity supporting children and young people of African and Caribbean heritage in the London Borough of Ealing, recently held its flagship event: The Dr John Roberts QC CBE Achievement Awards. The awards by the charity was a powerful showcase of young Black excellence across the educational spectrum, including the arts, sports, STEM, leadership and entrepreneurship. Margaret Noel, founded in the charity in 1993 and was delighted to celebrate the important milestone with the community and empowering the next generation. In a statement, to The Voice, she said: “It has been incredible to witness the wealth of young talent within the African and Caribbean communities, being educated right here in the Borough. “Their progress and achievements have been truly mind-blowing! This 20th Anniversary was so moving. The excellence in the room, the raw talent, the confidence, the room buzzed with pride.” Celebrated WINNER: SIR STEVE McQueen CBE AWARD-Kayla-Mai Appiah-White (Pic Credit: Marvin Lee-Cruzer) Run predominantly by volunteers and volunteer trustees, Descendants has earned numerous accolades over the years, including the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2019. To celebrate the evening, Apprentice winner and advisor Tim Campbell was the special guest of honour, which Noel says was a full circle moment. She said: “Twenty years ago, when I first had this idea, one of my volunteers told me to give it up, saying no one was interested. However, my other volunteer, Michael, encouraged me to keep going. We persevered; she left soon afterwards. “Still determined I wrote to Tim Campbell who had just won the first Apprentice in 2005. He called me and after a discussion, he accepted our invitation. “Once he lent his support and put his name to the vision, I was able to secure an education grant. The first year was truly special, filled with so many wonderful inspirational young people, an image we do not get to see.” Black excellence BLACK EXCELLENCE:Tim Campbell (middle), Tony Roberts, (son on Right) James Roberts (Grandson on left) of Dr John Roberts QC CBE. (Pic Credit: Marvin Lee-Cruzer) This year’s anniversary event, was held on Saturday 12th July 2025 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Ealing Common. Fifty talented students from primary, secondary, and special educational needs schools were shortlisted and honoured for their dedication and success, often in the face of adversity. Campbell joined students, families, teachers, the Deputy Mayor of Ealing, local councillors, MPs, and Descendants’ Patrons Dr Jak Beula and Camara Fearon. Noel says she has been inundated with messages from young people, headteachers and guests who have expressed their appreciation for the ceremony. She added: “My thought to all young people out there: ‘believe in yourselves, work hard, be determined, your potential is limitless. Of course, there will be obstacles along the way but keep positive and never give up on your vision. With determination, you can achieve amazing things!” Charity work Noel said its important to have platforms that celebrate Black children’s achievements and excellence to show “the next generation to see what is possible, and to balance the mostly negative narrative in the media about themselves.” Noel’s longstanding dedication has not gone unnoticed either. In 2012, she was selected to carry the Olympic Torch during the London Games, a symbol of her inspiring community work. More recently In 2023, she was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her outstanding service to the community in the London Borough of Ealing. Following the sudden loss of her sister Kim in 2005, Noel launched what was originally known as the Educational Achievement Awards. The initiative aimed to recognise and celebrate the often-overlooked success stories of young people of African and Caribbean descent. Inspired by Kim’s passion for uplifting youth, the awards were designed to instil an “I can achieve” mindset and to inspire ambition by showing young people role models who look like them. Winner WINNER: Ezekiel Carbon winner of the Kim Noel Award, with Janet Amara, Descendant’s Secretary and Trustee. (Pic Credit: Marvin Lee-Cruzer) Additionally, Careeta Robert-Green, who attended Descendants as a child now serves as the awards compère. Reflecting on the significance of the ceremony, she said: “I was one of the original children when Descendants first began over 30 years ago. It taught me the power of knowing who you are and being proud of your Black identity, something many young people still struggle with today, especially when they don’t see people who look like them achieving. “That’s why the Dr John Roberts QC CBE Awards mean so much. As a coach, mentor, and now compère, it’s one of the highlights of my year. Watching the next generation get recognised, celebrated, and inspired by people they can relate to is powerful. Thank you to the Descendants team for staying committed to pouring into young people and keeping the legacy alive.” Bright futures Past winners of the awards include Arsenal and England footballer Bukayo Saka (Sports category, 2017) and Tatianna Gailard-Morris, now a qualified commercial pilot. Also, many alumni have gone on to attend top universities such as Oxford and Cambridge and pursue successful careers. THE FUTURE: Youngsters at the Descendants Dr John Roberts QC CBE 20th Achievement Awards. (Pic Credit: Marvin Lee-Cruzer) And the winners are… Below are the awards winners and their categories of Descendants Dr Roberts QC CBE 20th Achievement Awards: Primary Students who excel in all areas of their education – Kia Lezama-Daniel Students who work hard and achieve against the odds – Ryker Howard Students who excel in the arts – Deniro – Carter Bhola Students who excel in sports – Faith McCabe and Daniel Ajose-joint winners Students who excel in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) – Excel in STEM Students with entrepreneurial qualities- Kelyssa Thomas-Rose Students who show future leadership potential- Tymel Jamil and Corey Watson joint winner Secondary Students who excel in all areas of their education – Emma Holland Students who work hard and achieve against the odds – Fatima Jamal Mohamed Students who excel in the arts – Alexis Kumbela Students who excel in sports – Ryan Adrien-Ward and Michael Osuji Joint winners Students who excel in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) – Amirah Stewart Students with entrepreneurial qualities- Fenna Opara Students who show future leadership potential- Amina Dahir Legacy named awards LENNOX THOMAS AWARD- Liban Mohamed KWAME KWEI-ARMAH OBE AWARD-Mia Wright JAMAL EDWARDS MBE AWARD-Ruby McCallam- Andrew KIM NOEL AWARD- Ezekiel Carbon WILLIS WILKIE AWARD- Ifeoluwa Sasha Omisore CONNIE MARKS MBE BEM AWARD- Reuben Hinds-Sobanjo SIR STEVE McQueen CBE AWARD-Kayla-Mai Appiah-White RT. HON. LORD PAUL BOATENG AWARD- Gabriel Amiaka DR ABDULLAH GULAID AWARD- Janae White DR JAK BEULA AWARD- Imayah Dayes TIM CAMPBELL MBE Award -Tymel Jamil DR JOHN ANTHONY ROBERTS QC CBE AWARD, overall outstanding winner -Fenna Opara Community Activist Award- Sr. Monica Twyang TEACHERS AWARD-MR Leondre Douglas Source link