Fresh call for nominations for the High 5 awards

A SWANSEA teenager who won a High 5 award after putting a tough early life and homelessness behind him through DJ-ing is calling on people across Swansea to nominate for this year’s awards and make dreams come true.

Tom Leckie, now aged 19, scooped the Judges Special Award last year in the awards for inspirational children and young people.

He says winning gave him the confidence boost and incentive to carry on his career in music which now sees him travelling to places like Southampton to entertain crowds as a DJ.

Today he called on local people to look around them to see the good in young people and nominate those whose determination enables them to defy the odds or help others in need in their communities.

He said: “I am enormously grateful for having been nominated for a High 5 Award. That alone was real boost. I could not believe I won and I believe 100% that winning has given me the confidence and encouraged me to take my DJ-ing further. I am really enjoying it.

“I have had some great prizes as part of winning and High 5 is also helping me get a gig back in Swansea with the chance to DJ at the Monkey Bar. I would love to do music full-time.”

Tom was one of eight individual winners and four groups who won a High 5 Award last year for making a real difference in their communities or succeeding against the odds.

They each won a goodie bag of prizes including a gift or experience designed especially for them, helping take their success further. Business mentoring and work experience, a unique trip to an island nature reserve, tools to kick start-up a career in plastering and a training day with the Swans for a medal-winning runner and super Swans fan were all among the tailor-made prize young people received.

Nominations are now open for the 2015 awards and Tom said he hoped even more people would nominate this time.

Swansea City star Leon Britton is the High 5 Awards ambassador and he is getting behind this year’s nominations campaign too. He said: “It is great to hear about the positive impact High 5 Awards has on winners and their stories will continue to prove an inspiration to others of all ages across Swansea.

“I am delighted that nominations for this year’s awards are already coming in but like Tom I hope even more people will nominate a young person they know.”

All you need to nominate is available at www.swansea.gov.uk/high5awards