Young people honoured at Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Awards

Alanis McKoy with her award. Photograph: Jack Petchey Foundation

A teenager who co-directed a performance of Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors was one of 75 young people from Hackney schools who were honoured for their achievements at an awards ceremony at Stoke Newington Town Hall last month.

Alanis McKoy, 15, who lives near Victoria Park and attends Clapton Girls Academy, received a medallion, certificate of achievement and a cheque for £200 to be spent on projects at her school at the ceremony organised by the Jack Petchey Foundation.

Miss McKoy said: “I would love to direct a play again in future and one of my aspirations is to act in a West End show. I love acting; it’s second nature to me.”

Established in 1999, the Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Awards is named after a successful East End entrepreneur and philanthropist and has invested £85 million to a wide range of 2,000 youth initiatives across London and Essex.

Jack Petchey CBE, 88, said: “I am passionate about our awards scheme which enables young people to be recognised, valued and rewarded for their achievements and positive contributions to society.”

The £200 Miss McKoy received will go towards funding trips to theatres for other Clapton Girls Academy pupils.