The 2019 BAE Systems Youth Leadership award went to a youth club first established in Preston back in 1975.

The Fusion Awards were held on Saturday July 6 at King George’s Hall, Blackburn attracting volunteers, charity workers and sporting talent from across the North West.

The Gujarat Hindu Youth Club has played a key role in the development of young people ever since it opened in 1975.

Some members who helped to establish the club are now in their fifties and still help those who have taken up the roles at the centre!

Video filmed by Shakil Salam

A representative said on the night, “Thank you so much for this recognition tonight. Thank you the Fusion Awards and thank you to the GHS for giving us this opportunity not just as youth leaders but as youth coming together.”

The club have taken a lead in organising youth festivals at regional and national level bringing together 300 to 400 youths.

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The award was presented by Denise Whitaker of BAE Systems

Currently, the GHS youth club meets regularly and has over 40 children attending. It attracts children from the age of 6 all the way to 15 years old. Youth club leaders strongly encourage the children to play together and to take responsibility for each other.

Alongside the main youth leaders there are many volunteers who also help run the club.  This allows them to build volunteering skills as well as gain volunteering hours for other youth awards such as the Duke of Edinburgh scheme.

The Youth Club has always taken a lead on bringing young people together from the whole of North West by organising a sports festival.

A statement form BAE Systems read, "Our business has always celebrated people who are not afraid tochallenge the status quo and push the boundaries to tackle challengeswhether they face our business or our community.

"The Fusion Awards shares these values and the Youth Leadership Award which we sponsor throws a spotlight on those young people whomaking a positive di erence in their communities by pushing their own boundaries."