Released: 15 November 2022
Incredible achievements and successes of children and young people in West Sussex were celebrated at the Exceptional People in Care (EPIC) awards on Saturday, 12 November 2022.
Held at Worthing Leisure Centre, the EPIC Awards 2022 was a big success, with over 400 young people, carers, volunteers and West Sussex County Council staff attending to toast the many achievements of West Sussex children in our care and care leavers.
This year’s ceremony was themed ‘Be You’ and it was a chance to celebrate the many achievements of the 364 nominees over the last 12 months.
Winners included a young man aged 17 who volunteers at his local greyhound centre, and began a campaign in his local area to collect rubbish in the streets. The audience and judges also heard about a young person who delivers a training course to understand the challenges of people living in care.
Awards and prizes were handed out for categories including Big Hearts and Big Strength winners, Children we care for Young Person of the Year 2022, Care Leaver of the Year 2022, and Best Foster Carer 2022.
Jacquie Russell, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, attended the event and said: “What an epic day! The success stories of all of the nominees this year were truly inspirational, I am so proud of each and every one of the children we care for and our care leavers. It’s a great reminder of what our children’s services is here to do, putting children and young people first and helping these amazing people to achieve their potential.”
Young people were treated to special celebrity messages on the day from Stephen Fry, Joe Wicks, Dame Joanna Lumley, Harlem Globetrotters, the cast of Eastenders, Brighton and Hove Albion and Major Tim Peake.
West Sussex County Council puts on the EPIC Awards each year to celebrate the successes of children in our care and our care leavers. Our Children in Care Council and Care Leavers Advisory Board help with organising the awards and hosting the ceremony.
Nominations for 2023 are already open: www.westsussex.gov.uk/epic
