Bernard Mathews Education and Young Person of the Year Award

Andrew Sherwood HR Director at Bernard Matthews:

“The Bernard Matthews Young Person of the Year Award is a very special award and an additional prize for a young person, or group of young people, who have triumphed over adversity to shine and inspire us all. Despite extremely challenging personal circumstances this remarkable young person has turned around a negative situation to become a shining example to us all about how facing a challenge head on can result in an inspirational outcome. The Bernard Matthews Young Person of the Year is courageous, motivational and is having such a positive impact on her own peers and the next generation to come. All congratulations to Ellie Bea Hitchcock Wyatt, the Bernard Matthews Young Person of the Year 2013.”

Published by EDP Norwich

“Ellie Bea Hitchcock-Wyatt, 16, right, from Norwich, was crowned the Bernard Matthews Young Person of the Year after also winning the education category for co-founding anti-bullying social enterprise Bullying Stinkz which teaches young people about equality and the importance of celebrating differences and including others. Ellie Bea co-founded Bullying Stinkz with her mum Jacqueline after she was bullied for eight years, and as part of Bullying Stinkz they have created a series of books and been working on an educational empowerment programme. Ellie Bea has also written songs including ‘GR8 AS U R (and Bullying Stinkz)’ to inspire children.

About receiving the two awards, she said: “It’s amazing to have won. I am really thrilled, and I really hope that getting the GR8 AS U R message across will really help people.”

Also shortlisted for education:

Tom Ewing, 17, from Trowse, for academic excellence and designing Wymondham College Magazine.

Friendly Faces, a peer support group at Aylsham High, for work to prevent bullying.