African youth league celebrates its excellence

Dagenham based youth charity, The African Youth League (AYL), has hosted a party in celebration of its Matrix Excellence Award.

The charity, one of only six organisations to receive the accolade, was presented with its award in November 2005 by Lord Sebastian Coe at a grand ceremony held at the Institute of Directors, for the organisationís excellent use of its Matrix Standard accreditation, which in turn, brought significant benefits to its many clients.

The judges praised the organisation for recognising the need for feedback from its young people and consequently forming a childrenís sub-committee, with a place for a young person on the actual main management committee of the AYL.

The African Youth League, which is a registered charity offering support, information and guidance to young people aged 5-25 years, invited three keynote speakers to its ëCelebrating Excellence Dayí, including Margaret Hodge, MP for Barking, Joan Howard, Chief Executive Officer of London Youth and Kathy Leahy, ENTOís National Contracts Manager for the Matrix Standard.

The key speakers addresses were interspersed with performances of poetry, music and contemporary dance by some of the young members, staff and volunteers of The African Youth League.

Margaret Hodge MP used the event to launch the AYLís two key new projects ñ ëLinking Communitiesí, a project designed to promote understanding amongst communities whilst minimising prejudice and racism between young ethnic groups and the host community in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. The second project launched on the day was ëRise Upí - a project that aims to help small and emerging organisations through support and training.

ENTOís Kathy Leahy, said of the event:

ìThere was a real party atmosphere. It is fantastic to see how proud the organisation is of its wonderful achievement, and its desire to include all members and the local community in this accolade.î

Having won its own Excellence Award, the African Youth League was keen to award some of its young people with excellence awards of their own ñ the ëOutstanding Individual Awardsí, which were also given out on the day.

The Matrix Standard is the nationally recognised quality mark for organisations which provide information, advice and guidance.

All Matrix Standard accredited organisations that wish to register their interest in this yearís Matrix Excellence Awards can do so at the Matrix Standard website.