The Jo Cox Memorial Award for Service
The Jo Cox Memorial Award for Service was instigated by Heckmondwike Grammar School in July 2016 as a tribute to Jo Cox’s passion for charitable and public service. The prize is to be awarded again this and every year to reward “selfless service to the school or the community.”
We were privileged to have Mr and Mrs Leadbeater and Kim Leadbeater, Jo’s Mum, Dad and Sister, all of whom, like Jo, have a close connection with our school.
The winner of this award this year is Aaisha Kara of 10SKE. Aaisha works tirelessly in the local community for the benefit of others. She works with a local youth group where she has organised and volunteered for a range of different projects. These projects have included feeding the homeless in Leeds city centre and fundraising in aid of a centre in Dewsbury where people with disabilities can meet and socialise. Aaisha has been seen packing bags at ASDA to raise money for victims of flooding in Mirfield, packing gifts for children unfortunate enough to be in hospital over Eid, helping organise a group of girls to get first aid certificates and leading another group of girls throughout this year to organise inspirational activities to celebrate International Women’s Day.
Her work doesn’t stop there either! She is also a Young Leader at Batley Brownies on Sundays. In addition, earlier this year she completed a sponsored bike trek and hike and raised £120 for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Foundation with help from other students in her form. Most recently she’s taken up a new role as an Equality and Diversity activist for Locala. She has worked with her team on designing and sharing a questionnaire to people of all ages in the community in order to ask them what they think needs changing in the community and she is now working on making them a reality through different workshops and visits. Aaisha also volunteers in a charity shop every weekend where she is a firm favourite with staff and customers.
All this as well as excelling at school! Aaisha received numerous nominations for this award from a wide range of staff and students and she clearly understands that the contribution of one person can make a world of difference to those in need.