Teen from County Durham receives British Citizen Youth Award in recognition of his work supporting people experiencing homelessness
A 13-year-old boy from Shildon, County Durham, has been honoured at The British Citizen Youth Awards, now it's 10th year, for his work with the charity Shildon Alive.
Deaken Towle was presented with the BCyA Medal of Honour at The Palace of Westminster on Thursday 29 October, joining other inspirational young people from across the UK who were being recognised for their extraordinary contributions to their communities and wider society.
Since the age of 11, Deaken has dedicated his free time to volunteering at Shildon Alive, which supports people in crisis and fights poverty through its community hub, memory café, emergency food, support and advice.
When Deaken learned that Shildon Alive could no longer fund its ‘Hand Up’ project, which provides bags containing essential items such as toiletries, hygiene products, weather protection and other everyday necessities for people experiencing homelessness, he made it his mission to find a way to bring it back.
In September 2025, Deaken took his campaign to the local council, writing a letter requesting support for the project, leading to an invitation to attend and speak at a council meeting in the October.
At the meeting, Deaken outlined the charity’s aims and highlighted the impact of homelessness in County Durham, raising awareness of the issue, whilst successfully securing the funds to revive the project.
Deaken’s campaigning also caught the attention of the Durham County Council's homelessness service, who visited Shildon Alive last year to meet Deaken and the volunteers to discuss the project and explore guidance and ongoing support for homelessness services in the area. During the visit, Shildon Alive donated 15 ‘Hand Up’ bags to support the service’s work.
Continuing his efforts to help those in need, on Friday 9 October, Deaken and his mum took part in a sponsored sleep-out in Bishop Auckland, organised by homelessness charity Cornerstone. During the event, a member of the public donated items for Shildon Alive's ‘Hand Up’ bags after speaking with Deaken about the work he does to support people experiencing homelessness.
Deaken is also currently collecting used crisp packets for Cornerstone, which donates them to the Crisp Packet Project to be repurposed into blankets and washbags for people in need.
Deaken said: “Receiving a BCyA medal means a lot to me, and the awards ceremony is a day I’ll always remember. Working with Shildon Alive and Cornerstone, I hope I’ve helped more people understand homelessness and encouraged them to support those in need. We can’t always solve every problem, but we can do our best to help make a difference. I love helping my community and aspire to keep doing more to help others in the future.”
The ceremony at The Palace of Westminster marked the 10th year of The British Citizen Youth Awards, celebrating a decade of recognising exceptional young people who have demonstrated kindness, selflessness and a commitment to making a difference.
Mike Faulkner, Director of the BCyA, said: “It was a fantastic evening celebrating another incredible group of young people at this year’s British Citizen Youth Awards, particularly as we mark a decade of recognising outstanding achievements across the country.
“It was wonderful to bring everyone together for such a special occasion and see these inspiring young people receive the recognition they deserve. We are incredibly proud to shine a light on their achievements and the positive impact they continue to make.”
The award was presented to Deaken by CBBC presenter Ben Shires, in front of his family, fellow award recipients and BCyA Patron Dame Mary Perkins.
Dame Mary Perkins, founder of Specsavers and BCyA Patron, said: “Deaken is a true community champion whose kindness, commitment and dedication have made a lasting difference to the lives of others. They embody the very best of citizenship and show how one person can make a real difference.
“At Specsavers, we are proud to support the communities we serve and celebrate people like Deaken, whose contribution helps make communities stronger. This recognition is a fitting tribute to their outstanding service to others and the positive impact they continue to make.”
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2027 medal presentations. To register, visit www.britishcitizenyouthawards.co.uk.
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