A READING teenager is among those who have been recognised by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh for positive change made in the community.
Dora Abbi, 17, was one of seven bestowed awards by The Duke of Edinburgh at the This Is Youth event at Buckingham Palace.
The second iteration of the event saw seven youngsters recognised for the amazing stories behind participants in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
This year saw more than half a million participants in the scheme and nearly 40,000.
Hundreds of participants were nominated for awards in seven categories: Innovator of the Year, Change Maker of the Year, All-stars of the Year, Trailblazer of the Year, Boundary Breaker of the Year, Life Changer of the Year, and Torchbearer of the Year
Winners were chosen by panels including D of E Youth Ambassadors and celebrity supporters such as McFly’s Harry Judd and mum, Emma Judd; actor Oliver Phelps; athlete and TV Gladiator Jodie Ounsley; SAS: Who Dares Wins star Jason Fox; influencer Fats Timbo; chef Jon Watts; and broadcaster Karthi Gnanasegaram.
Dora was awarded as Change Maker of the Year, sponsored by British Airways, denoting positive change she has made as a volunteer at the Royal Berkshire Hospital and in the community.
She is currently undergoing her Gold D of E award scheme with Berkshire Youth, and has volunteered at food banks and local care homes, mentored younger students at school, and also serves as Youth Governor at the Royal Berks.
She has worked hard to promote the NHS Call 4 Concern Initiative at the hospital, which allows patients and their families to voice any concerns they have about their care, in line with new national legislation around Martha’s Rule.
Dora explained that she was inspired to get involved with volunteering at the Royal Berkshire Hospital as she “practically grew up there”– with both parents working there and family members admitted throughout her life.
She also plans to study medicine and return to the hospital as a qualified doctor.
Of the award, Dora said: “For me, giving back to the community is important.
“One, it’s gratifying, but two, I just want to make positive change – even if it’s one small thing, if it makes the community better, it makes me happier.
“I hope that I’ve made some kind of positive impact, whether it made one person smile to have that extra gift at Christmas or it helps put food on the table for some families during a hard winter.”
She explained: “My volunteering in the hospital showed me how important it is for patients to know that they have a voice.
“Being able to voice their concerns gives them a bit more autonomy with their care.
“I know there are so many incredible people who are doing such incredible things, so to be recognised as the ‘Change Maker of the Year’, is just an honour.”
Speaking about her win, Abbi, Dora’s dad, said: “I can summarise Dora in three words: positive, vibrant and driven. She brings people together and provides light in otherwise dark times.”
Judge Harry Judd, (also a Bronze Award holder) said: “We were blown away by Dora’s positivity, can-do mindset and dedication to helping her community – going above and beyond to improve hospital patients’ lives and putting a smile on people’s faces.
“She’s a truly worthy recipient of Change Maker of the Year 2024.”
Emma Judd said: “Dora is outstanding, achieving so much and helping others at such a young age– what an example to us all.”
Ruth Marvel OBE, CEO of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, said: “This is Youth shines a well-deserved spotlight on just a few of the incredible things being achieved by our outstanding participants and volunteers all over the UK, every day.
“From teamwork and innovation to overcoming personal challenges, all our winners have done amazing things through the DofE and are an inspiration to others.
“I want to congratulate and thank them for everything they are doing to challenge themselves, follow their passions and make a difference in their communities.”
Mary Brew, Head of Responsible Business & Community Investment at British Airways, said: “We’re so pleased to partner with The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and This is Youth for the second year running through our Responsible Business Programme.
“By supporting the Change Maker of the Year category, we’ve been able to recognise remarkable young individuals like Dora, who give so much back to their communities.
“Inspiring young leaders like Dora are so important in driving positive change in local communities and embody the values of resilience, dedication, and community spirit that The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award seeks to promote.”
More information about the Duke of Edinburgh This Is Youth Awards is available via: dofe.org/thisisyouth
