Urban Synergy hosted its annual UShine Awards Ceremony 2024 late last month, bringing together inspiring role models, corporate partners, teachers, and mentors, and the charity’s supporters to celebrate the remarkable achievements of young people and the volunteers who empower them.
Hosted by our Patron, the broadcaster Eddie Nestor MBE and Darae Palmer, the ceremony, held at Salesforce's beautiful Ohana Room in London, honoured outstanding individuals across various categories, recognising their contributions to mentorship, leadership, social mobility and diversity.
So often we hear about the cost of living crisis, food banks and crime. Today, the charity celebrates the young people and their supporters who are creating safer, happier communities.The UShine Awards highlight Urban Synergy's mission of empowering underrepresented young people to unlock their potential and achieve their goals. “Choosing the winners was incredibly hard from among all of our young people and supporters.
We would have loved to invite everyone to our event and truly value each person's contribution. However, due to limited venue capacity, we are unfortunately unable to extend an invitation to all of the Urban Synergy ‘family’.
Holly Power, Principal, Aquinas Campus Christ The King Sixth Form College
“Holly has helped hundreds of students by involving them in corporate insight days, taking them into companies. She’s grown the Urban Synergy programme, and as senior leadership is leading from the front”
Chibi Ajero, Mentee Alumni & L6 Apprentice, Finance & Investment, Bloomberg
“He’s amazing. Never met anyone so determined, motivated and who wants to suck in information”
Sharon Blackman, OBE, Managing Director, Global Head of Services Legal, Citi
“I really like the time that she spends with students.”
“She is literally a rock star!”
Awah Tumban, Collateral & Liquidity Management, LSEG
“Given the role he has at LSEG, he’s really impressive that he finds time to mentor and support so many young people.”
Jacquline Alcindor, Global Diversity & Inclusion Programme Partner, Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM)
“Jaquiline (sic) dedicates so much time, and is helping the charity on multiple touch points, even running in the charity’s 5K Battersea Park Run.”
Jadon Black, Management Consultant Apprentice, PwC
“Jadon consistently plays it forward, he’s looking out for other young people behind him climbing up the ladder of life!”
Thank you to our independent judging panel for your thoughtful deliberation and to everyone who made this year’s awards possible. Your contributions ensure that young people from underrepresented communities continue to thrive and achieve their fullest potential. Learn about all of the finalists.
The Urban Synergy “UShine” judges - all social mobility and diversity champions in their own right - came from Thomson Reuters, Deutsche Bank, Deloitte, Barclays, PwC, Goldman Sachs, and Bloomberg.
Urban Synergy extends heartfelt gratitude to its generous sponsors for making the UShine Awards possible:
And Brentford FC and Tottenham Hotspur for their kind donations to our auction, along with the Chair of our Corporate Advisory Board, David Craig.
Urban Synergy’s CEO, Leila Thomas, expressed her gratitude to all the nominees, judges, and sponsors: “The UShine Awards highlight the power of mentorship and the incredible potential of young people when they’re given the opportunity to shine. Thank you to our sponsors and supporters for joining us in this movement to create social mobility and empowerment.”
For more information about Urban Synergy and the UShine Awards, visit www.urbansynergy.com.
