Young people who suffer from severe disabilities are celebrating awards for a range of achievements in fields including art, music and politics.

Ten people from Barnet were handed prizes by North Finchley-based Aidexcel support services, which provides advocacy training and one-to-one support for people with disabilities.

The presentations took place at the Barnet United Reformed Church, in Wood Street, where the winners displayed their work and gave presentations on their achievements.

Barnet Mayor Lisa Rutter was the special guest at the event, which took place on April 22.

Development director and founder Faith Unoarumhi said: “It was beautiful. It means the world to them – the look on the faces of the parents who saw their children collecting an award for the first time was really beautiful.

“Seeing the children collecting their awards makes it all worthwhile. It was a very rewarding moment.”

Among the winners were:

  • Michael Murphy, 13, from Mill Hill, who despite a recent back operation and living with a degenative disease has won many awards for horse riding.
  • Robert Littleton, 17, from North Finchley, who campaigned for setting up a Barnet branch of UK Youth Parliament, and then gained election as a member of it. He does not allow his visual impairment and albinism to affect him.
  • David Sassoon, ten, from Hendon, who has profound and multiple learning difficulties as well as cerebral palsy. David has developed his ability to use a hand switch and uses this to access computer programs and games. This achievement means he has increased his ability to help himself and his independence.
  • Baruch Cramer, ten, from Cricklewood, who has, despite living with cerebral palsy which limits movement in all his limbs, and visual impairment, has managed to increase his independence.
  • Deena Conway, 11, from Golders Green, who used to heavily rely on an adult pushing her but, having been introduced to an electric wheelchair, has shown great determination and effort in learning how to use it independently.
  • Kazeem Oladiran, 11, from Mill Hill, whose cerebral palsy severely restricts his movement but the determination he has shown to new physiotherapy methods has allowed him to stand independently for longer periods.
  • Rayna Bocheva, 13, from Cricklewood, excels at singing and, despite being born with only one arm, has made the most of out of her life. She has taken part in the Barnet Music Festival where she has performed in front of the public.
  • Raquaya (Kye) Grant, ten, from Edgware who, despite suffering communication issues after being home schooled in the past due to her severe learning disabilities, has made significant progress with her ability to communicate with the use of gesture and sound.
  • Osimo Unoarumhi, 17, from Barnet, who does not allow his visual impairment and albinism to affect his love of sport. He is a member of Penniwells’s riding school and also enjoys weight lifting, cannoning, trampolining and running.
  • Tumi Yenwo, 16, from Barnet who is a talented artist from Mapledown School. Tumi displayed his artwork on the day to show how he enjoys to express himself.