On Wed 21^st, I took 14 young people on a minibus to London for the above awards. 

Andrew Wells, the High Sheriff of Kent, and Mike Westwell of the Kent People’s Trust, met us there for the awards. They were the ones who had decided that Da Joint was Kent’s premier Youth Project, and had put us forward for the awards, we had scooped THIRD, in the COUNTRY. 

We arrived about 10 at the London Imperial Hotel, where refreshments wer laid on as the awards ceremony got started. The Awards were won by the Six Saint Circa Holt Youth Club in Leicestershire,for it’s work on hoax 999 calls, second place was the Mapplebeck Young Anglers Association from  Harrogate, with the Joint a late starting but very commendable third. 

After the awards lunch was served, followed by a sightseeing tour of London on an open top bus, finishing at the London Eye. The youngsters loved it, but I spent the whole of that bit with my eyes shut! 

Back to the minibus, McDonalds on the way home to round off an excellent and rewarding day. 

I had a very difficult task choosing who went, because so many young people have been involved in so many of our projects, but drew up the final list as below:

Original building of Da Joint: Dan B, James, Keith, Jason, Steph and Andrew.

Face painting at fairs: Jade B, Lou, Maleisha.

Committee Work: Becky, Maleisha and Dan

Xmas Lights        Taylor and Jade L

Skatepark Campaign and work, Jason, Will B, Becky, Lou and James.

 James "Boon" has now turned 18 and has started as a volunteer.