Bethany Monk Lane gets a Jack Petchey Covid-19 Community prize

Bethany Monk Lane

The Jack Petchey Foundation, a London-based charity, launched its Community Awards during Covid-19 to recognise young people from London and Essex who are helping people in their local area during the Coronavirus outbreak.

The most recent winner is Bethany Monk Lane, aged 23, from Wandsworth.

Bethany is an MA Acting student at the University of Essex who has worked continuously to support her fellow students during the lockdown by collaborating online and editing work for others.

In addition Bethany has also been supporting her mother, a key worker who in turn has been supporting asylum seekers throughout the pandemic.

Bethany said, “Thank you so much to Andrea for the nomination, and to the Jack Petchey Foundation for the award. The last few months have been a difficult time for us all, but I think this experience has taught us that we have to start looking out for one another, both in our local communities and throughout the UK.”

Bethany was awarded £50 from the Foundation and a letter from Sir Jack Petchey - who founded the Jack Petchey Foundation in 1999 to recognise the positive contributions young people make to society - to congratulate her on going the extra mile to help others during lockdown.

Bethany’s nominator, Andrea Brookes, added, “She has, in short, shown golden generosity and an exceptional appetite for really hard work and a generous compassionate listening ear.”

Trudy Kilcullen MBE, who is CEO of the Jack Petchey Foundation, said, “At the Jack Petchey Foundation, young people inspire us all the time with the incredible work they do and that has not stopped in the current situation. We want to recognise more young people across London and Essex doing inspirational things to help their community and hope these Community Awards will motivate others and truly showcase the positive things young people do every day.”
A young person can be nominated for any help they are providing to aid vulnerable family members, the local area, school or youth group during the Covid-19 pandemic, as long as these abide by the government guidelines for social distancing.

This could include delivering groceries to a vulnerable neighbour, creating content to inspire others (e.g. artwork, videos and blog posts), helping a youth group to adapt their work online, contacting local isolated people on the phone or supporting a parent/friend keyworker.

The Jack Petchey Foundation has worked with schools and youth groups across Wandsworth since 2007, providing £881,995 of funding in the local area.

September 16, 2020