Overall winner

Overall winner of the Andy Neal Award

Every year one overall winner is chosen from all award category winners by judges made up of SYA sponsors.  This award is called the Andy Neal Award and is in memory of a friend and colleague to the Together for Children team, who sadly died suddenly in 2011. Following a career with Sunderland City Council that spanned three decades, Andy is remembered for his passion and dedication to youth work and young people in Sunderland.  During his career, Andy played a pivotal role in developing the Young Achievers' Awards and we are honoured to mark his contribution to the awards and families in Sunderland every year. 

Read all about the 2024 overall winner - Molly Mackings!

As well as winning the Young Carer Category, Molly was named as the overall winner of the Sunderland Young Achievers' Awards 2024.  As a carer for her mum who has Multiple Sclerosis, her brother and another family member with disabilities Molly shows compassion, dedication and kindness on a daily basis and strives for inclusivity and empowerment.  

Speaking about her win Molly Mackings said: "Winning the Sunderland Young Achiever Young Awards felt surreal as I won it for being a carer which is something I do in my everyday life, and is just normal to me, so I really didn't expect to win.

"After hearing so many wonderful and inspiring stories throughout the night when my name was read out as overall winner, I didn't even realise it was me, and I was looking around for the winner!  Winning the award means so much, it has helped me with career, my confidence and it has made me feel like what I've been doing my whole life has really meant something."

Artemis Machabée, nominated Molly for her award and said: "I met Molly while she was volunteering with Tailored Leisure, a not-for-profit organisation providing accessible fitness and wellness opportunities for people with disabilities and long-term health conditions. At first, I was terrified to join the accessible exercise groups that Tailored Leisure runs because I was scared people would judge me for being pregnant while being in a powered wheelchair. But I discovered community, confidence, independence and the whole course of my life changed for the better. This was in large part due to the on-site support I received from Molly during my pregnancy and after giving birth. She was only 14 years old in 2021 when I joined, but she thought nothing of volunteering herself to help me every week. She did this for nearly every exercise session I went to for almost two years to support my attendance.

"In 2022 I hired her privately to support me in the community so I could experience things with my daughter that I would have been unable to otherwise because of my disability. Then in 2023 I officially hired her as one of my carers and she now cares for both me and my disabled husband. This is in addition to her multiple volunteer duties, her care duties for her mother and brother, her studies to be a Veterinary nurse and her own SEND disabilities. When I asked her why she'd chosen to help us, she told me 'My mam got a lot of help to raise me and my brother; it feels right to give that opportunity to another family.' Molly Mackings is a selfless, kind, hardworking and determined young person who has always done her utmost to help those around her. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't be the person and mother I am today. When I saw the poster for the awards at the Bunnyhill Family Hub one day, her name sprang to mind immediately. I nominated her not only to show her how grateful I am for her years of support to me and my family, but to recognise the amazing work she has done for her own family and for her community. I can think of no one more deserving than Molly Mackings for the awards she received."

Molly also helped her mum Tara set up Tailored Leisure Co in 2019 - an organisation which focuses on delivering accessible fitness and wellbeing solutions to those with disabilities and long-term health conditions in the North East.

Speaking about the award Tara's mum said: As Molly's mam, I am incredibly proud of all she has achieved.  As a mam with cerebral palsy she has lived all her life as a young carer not knowing any different, but this doesn't always make everyday life easy.  Molly also supports her younger brother Jack aged 14 who is autistic whilst studying full-time to be a veterinary nurse at Kirkley Hall Collage, an hour away from home.  This is a task in itself for anyone without some of the other things Molly has to do.

"From being young she has always been so passionate about putting others first even in secondary school she collected winter coats for the homeless. I am incredibly proud of Molly and the young woman she has become because without her, I could not be me. To have her beside me supporting other families who need the support fills my heart with some much pride as her mother."

A huge congratulations to the deserving 2024 overall winner Molly!