Important information: please read carefully
Today we are pleased to announce the 2020 CVQO Westminster Award selection event finalists. Considering we received the highest number of nominations ever for this year’s Award, for these 40 young people it’s a phenomenal achievement and one that they should be rightly proud of. All nominees and nominating officers have been notified of the outcome via email.
We are sorry to say this good news is slightly bittersweet, however. In light of recent events and the coronavirus pandemic that is currently affecting the UK, CVQO has made the very difficult decision to postpone this year’s selection event until such time as we can be sure the wellbeing of our learners and their families will not be compromised.
CVQO is acutely aware of its duty of care to learners, supporters and staff. Their safety is paramount and it is for that reason that we have had to come to this decision.
What does this mean for the finalists?
We are currently making alternative plans to hold selection during the October half term, with an awards ceremony taking place in December. Clearly this has a knock-on effect on the 2020 South Africa trip that was scheduled to depart in early July. This has been postponed until 2021, when we will take this year’s finalists along with 2021’s, forming a ‘double’ expedition.
We hope this news does not overshadow what is a brilliant personal achievement for our finalists, but we know they will understand our motives for making this decision. CVQO is doing its best to ensure as many people will still benefit from the life-changing experiences the Westminster Award offers and we are all determined it will still go ahead, albeit according to slightly different timescales.
We will release further information as soon as we are able however, for now, here are our 2020 selection event finalists!
Abdul-Hameed Firfirey Scarborough Sea Cadets
Alex Coombe 233 (Pershore) Squadron RAFAC
Alex Gill Derbyshire ACF, Spondon Det, D Company
Alexander Wiltshire Wiltshire ACF, Devizes Detachment
Amy Lee Middx & NW London Sector ACF, 195 Staines Detachment PWRR
Apple-Jane Hayward Brentwood Sea Cadets
Cameron Steer 234 (City of Durham) Squadron RAFAC
Charlie Moss St John Ambulance Portishead and Pill Cadet Unit
Christopher Berridge 104 (City of Cambridge) Squadron RAFAC
Ella McAlister Dorset ACF, Christchurch Detachment
Ellen Hubbard The Thomas Hardye School CCF – Army
Ellie Waterman 54 (Eastbourne) Squadron RAFAC
Elliot Handley Wellington School CCF – Army Section
Emily Beardall-Edmondson Greater London SW Sector ACF, 143 PWRR Detachment
Emily Horton Nottingham Sea Cadets
Grace Hartup City of Leeds Sea Cadets
Hannah Taylor 1801 (Alnwick) Squadron RAFAC
Holly Vincentelli Gwent and Powys ACF, Machynlleth Detachment
Isabel Bottley Essex ACF, Rayleigh Platoon
Jade Wells Dartford & Crayford Sea Cadets
Jess Prentice 35 (Wetherby) Squadron RAFAC
Jorja Bailey South Yorkshire Fire Cadets – Rotherham (stn 18)
Lucia Pierlot Flitwick and Ampthill Sea Cadets
Matthew Knox 2344 (Longbenton) Squadron RAFAC
Max McGuire Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service, Ascot Drive Fire Cadets
Megan Richards Shropshire ACF, Pontesbury Detachment
Natalie Coleman Weymouth Sea Cadets
Olivia Pavitt Cambridgeshire ACF, Burwell Detachment
Olivia Smith 102 (Aberdeen Airport) Squadron RAFAC
Ollie Hales 158 (Braintree) Squadron RAFAC
Owen Timney Northumbria ACF, Slatyford Detachment
Phoebe Carlile St John Ambulance Havant Cadet Unit
Pilar Thorley-Saiz St John Ambulance Malden and Coombe Cadet Unit
Poppy Cooper 182 (North Trafford) Squadron RAFAC
Rory Donoghue 1094 (City of Ely) Squadron RAFAC
Sam Hilder Lincolnshire ACF, 2 Squadron, Stamford Detachment
Saskia Lewis King Edward VI Grammar School CCF – Army Section
Shahrooz Ghaedsharaf Yorkshire North & West ACF, Wakefield Detachment
Sophie Lambert Christ’s Hospital CCF Army Section
Yaqoub Imran St John Ambulance Allesley & Radford Cadet Unit