Child of Wales Awards part 3
Part 3 of our coverage of the 2024 Child of Wales Awards
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00:00Welcome back to the 2024 Child of Wales Awards, where we're shining a spotlight on some of the most inspiring young people in Wales.
00:10We've already seen some emotional moments and there's some more to come as we continue to celebrate those who are making a real difference in their communities.
00:19Ladies and gents, Lord Lieutenant, distinguished guests, boys and girls, welcome to the Child of Wales Awards 2024.
00:29Here we are again, it gets bigger every year and it grows thanks to you in the room, you're all absolute legends.
00:37Are you ready for the awards this evening ladies and gents?
00:41We're going to do four, we're going to take a break, we're going to absolutely love it and support our winners this evening.
00:47The first award of the night is for young performers sponsored by Swansea City Football Club.
00:52Alan Curtis MBE, huge supporter of these awards, is back with us this year to give out the trophy.
00:58We start with Jayden. Jayden was struggling with self-confidence after being made fun of because of his hair.
01:06He was nine years old when he started theatre school and dance classes and then it all changed.
01:14Hello, my name is Jayden Rhys Griffiths, I'm nine years old and I am the winner of the Young Performers Award.
01:24When I was younger I used to be quite shy, so I started theatre classes to help me not be shy and be confident around other people.
01:34I'm really excited because this is my first time ever on stage and I also felt a bit nervous because there were lots of people watching me.
01:43But then the more times I went on stage I felt more confident.
01:48Hi, I'm Stacey and I'm Jayden's mum. As a mum, seeing Jayden perform on stage for the first time was just phenomenal.
01:54Seeing him go from a shy little boy to this absolutely confident superstar.
01:58Jayden was selected to represent Team Wales at the Dance World Cup finals and won gold in his duo category.
02:05I had only been dancing for like a year then. Me and my partner came first place and I knew that dancing was something that I wanted to carry on doing.
02:14Jayden obviously being a boy in dance, there's not a huge amount of them locally, especially in smaller competitions.
02:21We don't always have access to male changing rooms. As someone who's still quite shy, having to be around girls isn't always the easiest thing but he keeps pushing through and still wants to go and dance.
02:32When my hair was first made fun of, it took me a long time to actually start to like my hair.
02:41So when he was coming to our website, obviously as a mum, that's heartbreaking and it's quite upsetting for his dad's wife and hair teacher.
02:48From that time it's quite upsetting for them that he was still getting those comments about his hair type.
02:54But I've learned to be proud of it and I've learned that it's part of who I am.
03:10So Jayden, first things first, your mum said that she wanted to make a stress that you chose your suit this evening.
03:27Yes.
03:28Yes you did, yeah.
03:29Anyway, have you got a few of these or is this your favourite one for tonight's awards?
03:33No, this is definitely my favourite one.
03:36Do you ever perform in that suit or is it just for special occasions?
03:40No, it's just for special occasions.
03:42You're the first winner this evening. You've been amazing, you've been really resilient and you've been through a lot. How does it feel to accept this award?
03:50It feels really good to have won this award and it feels good to know that I've been an influence on others.
04:00You absolutely have.
04:06Tom, you may remember that the Yendall family won the Courageous Family Award last year, 18 months ago it was, wasn't it?
04:14It was created, the charity was created in the memory of Joseph Yendall who sadly lost his fight to cancer in 2021 aged 3.
04:24The guys here tonight, they've been amazing, they've done so much, they've been involved in a documentary which has changed the charity's life.
04:32They do so much to help with treatment, treatment that you can't always get on the NHS and helping so many families, they are so busy with it.
04:41But of course, they need your support.
04:43But, as I said, it's a unique introduction and this is a song by Steve Balsamo, patron of Joseph Smile, written alongside with Tim Hamill in memory of Joseph.
04:56They'll be accompanied by the Black Mountain Voices and this is called Never Alone, a song for Joseph.
05:07You need to smile for mommy again now. Are you going to smile Joseph?
05:26Come to me darling Lay your burden on the ground
05:44Last night I heard you calling Right here you're safe and sound
05:55You let the firefly escape the jar
06:06Little light through the desert sheath You've come so far
06:14Tonight you'll be home again But it's alright if you're a million miles away
06:32No you're never alone
06:42Come sit by the fire Take a seat on the porch in the rain
06:51You can rest now it's over You can find your way back to these arms again
07:04Know that we are all dust for the stars
07:10And the dust will turn when we take the final dance
07:21Tonight you'll be home again But it's alright if you're a million miles away
07:39No you're never alone
07:44Never alone
07:48No you're never alone
07:53No you're never alone
07:55No you're never alone
08:04Now your heart is open
08:06Stitched and bound but no more broken Tonight you'll come home again
08:26Yeah it's alright if you're a million miles away
08:36No you're never alone
08:39There is hope, there is hope, always there There is hope, there is hope, this I swear
08:49There is hope, there is hope, this is my prayer
08:58There is hope, there is hope, always there There is hope, there is hope, this I swear
09:08There is hope, there is hope, this is my prayer
09:28Yay!
09:47Aww I love that, thank you
09:52Thank you my beautiful boy
09:57Thank you
10:07We've heard from the charities in attendance tonight as well as some of the stars along the red carpet
10:12But who better to hear the stories of the incredible young people than from the young people themselves
10:17Iona is catching up with them, Iona how are you getting on?
10:21I'm here talking to a few more of our winners tonight
10:24First of all could you just tell us a little bit about the award?
10:28So we won the Courageous Family Award, we started a charity in February last year
10:34Just before our son passed away to basically help families everywhere who were fighting childhood cancer
10:42We sadly lost our son not long after but we've continued to fundraise in his memory
10:49I don't know if there's anything else you'd like to add to that?
10:52This is, like I said earlier, it's not just for Morgan or just for us
10:56It's every family that's walked the path that we've walked, they continue to walk it
11:00No one fights alone and we make sure that there's someone always with you
11:05Tonight you're a bit of a celebrity, how does that make you feel?
11:09I feel very happy that my work has been recognised
11:13So just on the back of your award, could you tell me a little bit more about it?
11:17I make crisp packet blankets out of recycled crisp packets
11:22But I also include a care package and I donate them to homeless shelters and I've made over 500
11:29And just going forward, obviously you've won this gorgeous award tonight
11:32You're at this gorgeous event, what are you hoping to do in the future?
11:37I hope to make my workshops international where I make them on a Zoom for everyone in the country to join
11:43What an unforgettable night it's been so far, these young people have truly touched our hearts
11:48We've got a few more inspiring stories to share, plus a special performance you won't want to miss
11:53So stay tuned, we'll be right back