A true young hero for Bristol

From care-leaver to carer, Allayah’s is a tough story to read and an inspiration at the same time. Her attitude to life has been recognised with the highest accolade in the Bristol Young Heroes Awards.

Allayah Daniels came from an extremely troubled and violent childhood, followed by a series of foster care placements, before finding a stable place to live with her grandparents. Now 19, she has herself become their registered carer. Scoring top marks as a graphic design student at SGS College, Allayah spends most of her free time looking after them, despite experiencing poor health herself. She passed most of Christmas at Southmead Hospital, sleeping on the ward where her grandmother was being treated.

Allayah was referred to LPW so she could engage in some positive activities and enjoy time free of her caring responsibilities. Her LPW Engagement Worker Alex Eden has also supported Allayah through some very difficult periods, including getting her enrolled at SGS despite Allayah missing most of her GCSE exams through her own ill health.

Allayah was a nominee in the Learning Hero category of the Bristol Young Heroes Awards, but ended up winning the overall 2018 Young Hero of the Year prize, taking home a trophy, the latest iPad and a £50 iTunes gift card. Allayah also met senior UWE staff who’ve offered support when she starts University. She has also been given £400 worth of vouchers from the Dawe Family Trust, which she plans to use for her study materials.

“She is an incredible artist and one of the most resilient young people I have ever met. Once you get past the tough exterior and get to know the person underneath she will have you in stitches with her dead pan comedy and brutal sarcasm! To have had such a bleak start to life and to still be striving to better yourself feels to me be exactly what a Young Hero should be.” – Alex Eden

“I’ve been in shock. To my surprise I won the Overall Young Hero Award. There were so many nominees and people there. On stage I was a bumbling mess. Shaking! I couldn’t believe that I had won. I wanted to thank Alex at LPW for nominating me as it was the most memorable day of my life.” – Allayah

Allayah (centre) is pictured with SGS College lecturer Amelia Stewart and LPW Engagement Worker Alex Eden.