Young Enterprise NI Alumni receives Diana Award
Young Enterprise Alumni is honoured with The Diana Award for going above and beyond in their daily life to create and sustain positive change.
Aimée Clint, aged 20, from Ballywalter has been recognised with the highest accolade a young person can achieve for social action or humanitarian efforts – The Diana Award.
Established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, the Award is given out by the charity of the same name and has the support of both her sons, The Duke of Cambridge and The Duke of Sussex.
These exceptional young people have demonstrated their ability to inspire and mobilise their own generation to service their communities through campaigning, volunteering, fundraising, fighting injustice or overcoming extreme life challenges. Although their causes and backgrounds are varied, what they all have in common is that they are changing their communities and the world.
After her brother was diagnosed with Autism, Aimée struggled to find the resources to help her understand his diagnosis. Whilst on the Young Enterprise NI Company Programme, Aimée and her team set up a student business to publish ‘No Two Stars are the Same’, a book for young people to turn to for support. Aimée went on to set up social enterprise ‘Stellas’, where she wrote a second book and established a ‘buy one, give one’ model, so that young people can access support in school.
Aimée has received a ‘Young Enterprise Journey Award’ for her work to raise awareness of Autism and is also the ‘Young Ambassador for Social Enterprise NI’, inspiring young social entrepreneurs.
Aimée was nominated by Young Enterprise NI who have watched her growth as an alumni of the programme. CEO of Young Enterprise NI, Carol Fitzsimons MBE, explains, “We were delighted to nominate Aimée for the Diana Award, in recognition of her achievements in developing her social enterprise, Books by Stellas, in support of better understanding of autism. Over the last 3 years, I have seen her grow in confidence and become a well known face as a Young Ambassador for Social Enterprise NI.”
Carol Fitzsimons MBE, CEO of Young Enterprise NI
Aimée says, “I am honoured to receive this incredible award in memory of the ‘People’s Princess’. This award means so much to me, not just because as I follow in the footsteps of alumni before me, but most importantly it shows the impact Diana created and still does changing the world to this day.
This is a true affirmation of the work I have done over the last 2-3 years, with the goal of creating awareness and leaving the world a little better.
I am very excited to get involved in the Diana Award programmes and get to meet the rest of the recipients. I want to say a huge thank you to Young Enterprise NI for nominating me for the prestigious award and highlighted the important work I do with Books By Stellas. I am very excited to get involved in the Diana Award programmes and get to meet the rest of the recipients. “
The Diana Award develops and inspires positive change in the lives of young people through three key programmes which include; a mentoring programme for young people at risk, a youth-led anti-bullying ambassadors campaign and a prestigious award which publicly recognises young people – The Diana Award.
“I congratulate Aimée as a new NI Diana Award recipient, as she joins the roll of honour of young people across the UK and all over the globe who are changemakers for their generation. We know by receiving this honour she will inspire more young people to get involved in their communities and begin their own journey as active citizens. For over twenty years The Diana Award has valued and invested in young people encouraging them to continue to make positive change in their communities and lives of others.”
Sandara Kelso-Robb MBE, the NI Ambassador for The Diana Award & judge panel member
The Diana Award recipients will be celebrated with an online event featuring celebrities and surprise guests to honour the young changemakers from across the world at virtual ceremony marking Princess Diana’s 60th Birthday.
About The Diana Award – The Diana Award develops and inspires positive change in the lives of young people through three key programmes which include; a mentoring programme for young people at risk, a youth-led anti-bullying ambassadors campaign and a prestigious award which publicly recognises young people – The Diana Award.
What is the Nomination Process? Award recipients have been put forward by adults who know the young people in a professional capacity and recognised their efforts as a positive contribution to society. Through a rigorous nomination process, these nominators had to demonstrate the nominee’s impact in five key areas: Vision, Social Impact, Inspiring Others, Youth Leadership, and Service Journey.
There are 12 Diana Award Judging Panels representing each UK region or nation and a further three panels representing countries outside of the UK. Each panel consist of three judges; one young person, an education or youth work professional, and a business or government representative. The panels have an important main purpose: to determine which nominations from each UK region/nation/country will receive The Diana Award.
Nominations are judged using the Criteria Guide and Scoring Guide which have been created to measure quality of youth social action.
