Young People Celebrated at Jack Petchey Awards

Over one hundred attend event held at Greenford Hall

Connie from Ealing with her award

February 10, 2026

One hundred and twenty‑one young people from across Ealing have been recognised for their achievements at a special Jack Petchey Foundation ceremony held at Greenford Halls. The event celebrated the contributions of award winners aged 11 to 25 who have made a positive impact on their schools, colleges and youth organisations. Each recipient received a medallion, a framed certificate and a £300 grant to benefit their group or club. Five adults were also honoured with Leader Awards for their outstanding commitment to motivating and supporting young people.

The Jack Petchey Foundation has invested more than £1.1 million in Ealing since its programmes began, helping thousands of young people develop confidence, leadership and ambition. Since its creation in 1999 by Sir Jack Petchey CBE, the Foundation has invested over £180 million across London and Essex, recognising more than 250,000 young people and involving millions in celebration events.

Among this year’s Ealing winners was 14‑year‑old Connie, a student at Innovation Dance Studios Ltd, who was praised for her exceptional resilience and rapid progress during her first year as part of a competitive dance team. Her peers nominated her after witnessing her determination, hard work and ability to thrive under the pressure of competitive performance. Connie has made significant strides in her jazz and contemporary classes, and her team recently placed first in their age group across London, securing a place at the World Street Dance Championships.

Connie chose to spend her £300 Achievement Award grant on specialist training and choreography to support her team’s new routine, ensuring that the whole group benefits from her recognition.

Innovation Dance Studios offers classes in ballet, contemporary, jazz, street dance and musical theatre. It has built a reputation for nurturing talent from beginner level through to elite competition teams, with many students progressing to national championships, professional training programmes and performing arts colleges. The studio also places strong emphasis on confidence‑building, teamwork and wellbeing, making it a supportive environment for young dancers of all abilities.

The recognition of Connie’s achievements highlights the studio’s commitment to developing both technical skill and personal growth. Staff at Innovation Dance Studios say they are immensely proud of her progress and the example she sets for younger dancers.

Sir Jack Petchey has long emphasised the importance of celebrating young people’s achievements, saying that the awards scheme exists to ensure young people feel valued and recognised for their contributions to society. This year’s ceremony in Ealing once again demonstrated the breadth of talent, resilience and community spirit among the borough’s young people.