Gretchen wants to know:

When was the Awards scheme founded? What was the inspiration behind it?

Piers Blake said:

25 years ago Whitbread launched the Volunteer Awards but 3 years ago we recognised the need to celebrate young people and their volunteering efforts. Hence the Young Achiever's Award is in its third year.

Maorigrrrl511 wants to know:

Do you get more entrants from one part of the country than another? If so, which one?

Piers said:

Typically London always submits high numbers but this is a national award and I'm pleased to say we get nominations from all over the UK.

Kev wants to know:

Jesse, what inspired you to start the Haringey Warriors Youth Organisation?

Jesse said:

Living and coming from Haringey - a disadvantaged community, I felt there was not adequate service provision for all members of the community. I felt it was important that all members of the community should have the opportunity to achieve and be successful, no matter what background they come from.

Zoe wants to know:

Where do you go next with your project?

Jesse said:

We plan to launch the project regionally across London and within the next 10 years - on a national scale.

Jerry wants to know:

Where do I need to go to get more information about the awards?

Piers said:

They can go on the website: www.whitbreadyoungachievers.co.uk - everything they might want is there!

Jack Richards wants to know:

What sorts of projects have people been carrying out?

Piers said:

We have a young man who has used football to teach local children how to read and write. We have a profoundly deaf young man who coaches archery, climbing and canoeing to disadvantaged kids. We have a young lady who has brought art to children in Africa. We have a 17 year old who lost a friend in a drinking prank and has launched an awareness programme for alcohol and drug abuse. We also have a young lady who has opened an eco garden in Leeds and turned a very run-down area into a fantastic project, to name a few!

Hilary wants to know:

Who do you get to judge the entries - do you change the categories every year?

Piers said:

We source experts in each of the 4 categories of arts, community, environment and sport and where possible we try to enrol the support of celebrities by category. For example - Floella Benjamin, Giles Long, Vivienne Parry. Finally we have representatives from each of the Whitbread brands such as Costa, David Lloyd Leisure, Premier Travel Inn and TGI Friday's, who sponsor the individual categories.

Kelly wants to know:

How long has June Sarpong been involved with the Young Achievers Awards?

Piers said:

June has been with us for 3 years and is an avid supporter of young people, in particular the volunteers that we discover with the Whitbread Young Achievers Awards.

Helen, Cardiff wants to know:

Jesse, are you looking forward to meeting June?

Jesse said:

Yes - I watch T4 occasionally so it will be interesting to meet her in person.

Howard, Essex wants to know:

If you win, what do you plan to do with the money?

Jesse said:

If I win, the money will go into the Haringey Warriors Youth Organisation bank account and be spent on project costs, which range from core costs to new ventures.

Sam Hudson wants to know:

Do you hope to inspire others by what you ve done?

Jesse said:

Good question. HWYO is about creating positive community leaders who embody our aims and objectives and who will pass on the skills gained through participation in our services to friends, family and other members of the community.

Pam wants to know:

What have some of the past 'money can't buy' opportunities been? They sound like really amazing experiences.

Piers said:

We've had previous winners spending a day with Nelson Mandela's barrister Lord Joffe; other winners have shadowed ministers for a day. Last year 4 of our winners attended a summer school in India to learn how to develop their projects further. We've had young people recording their own programmes at the BBC and we've had a day at Chelsea Football Club behind the scenes, for our sports winners. The list goes on. However, all of our finalists past and present are provided with mentors, advice and guidance on project management plus support in finding additional grants and funding to move them onto the next level.

Gina wants to know:

What would be your dream 'money can't buy opportunity'? Lunch with Tony Blair? A day with Nelson Mandela?

Jesse said:

To meet my idol - Michael Jordan, and play him one-on-one.

Russell wants to know:

Jesse, how did you get involved with the Prince's Trust. Was it easy asking for help?

Jesse said:

I got involved with the Prince's Trust when I was in prison. I attended a computing course and the tutors on the course suggested that I write a business plan. They persisted over the course of about a month, to offer me this opportunity to write a business plan and I was visited in prison by a representative of the Prince's Trust. I embraced his advice and upon my release chose to attend a clinic to sharpen up my business plan and Haringey Warriors was born from there. They provided that all important first stepping stone.

Fiona Battle said:

They are incredibly important because they provide amazing opportunities and support for youth today. It's an opportunity to develop skills and knowledge whilst giving something back to their local community network.

Haley wants to know:

Fiona, how did you get involved with the Whitbread Young Achievers Awards?

Fiona said:

We became involved, as YouthNet's mission is to engage, inform and inspire young adults to help them achieve their ambitions and dreams. Therefore, these awards fit perfectly with our mission as they are about supporting and recognising the incredible things that young people do.

We've got a good question that leads on from that;

Sarah wants to know:

What exactly does YouthNet do?

Fiona said:

We achieve our mission through our two websites: www.do-it.org.uk and www.thesite.org. Do-it.org.uk is the central place on the web to find a volunteering opportunity by a simple postcode search. We currently have over 650,000 opportunities to volunteer on our database. www.thesite.org. is an information, advice and guidance website for young people which covers anything and everything that you need to know as you're growing up. We cover sex, relationships, health, mental health, emotional wellbeing, volunteering, careers, drugs, drink and alongside that we have incredibly vibrant community members who provide peer to peer support to each other.

Getting back to the awards, Fran would like to know:

The awards are open to people betwen the ages of 16 - 25. From which age group do you normally get the most entries? Do you have any idea why that is?

Fiona:

It's mostly from 21-25 year olds and it's a 50-50 male-female split.

Kevin Howe wants to know:

How do I nominate people for the award?

Fiona said

Nominations can be placed on the website, which is www.whitbreadyoungachievers.co.uk. This is normally launched 6 months before the awards ceremony and contains an online nomination form that's easy to complete.

Penny, Petersfield wants to know:

I have an idea for a project, but have no clue how to get started - what should I do?

Fiona said:

That's great! There is an organisation in Birmingham called Youth Action Network, which is there to provide support for people exactly like you. I suggest that you give them a ring and they will give you further advice. Their number is 0121 455 9732 or you can go to www.youth-action.org.uk.

Hannah wants to know how much of a factor age plays:

Are you ever too old or too young to get involved in a community project?

Fiona said:

Absolutely not. It's never too early to start and we hope that people continue to support their communities throughout their life. Jesse: We have children and young people from the age of 6 taking part in our activities at present.

Simon Penfold wants to know:

Do you plan to do this for the rest of your life Jesse?"

Jesse said:

I plan for HWYO to be a long-standing organisation. I plan to pass on management and responsibility for it to some of the young people who are currently attending our services. I'm still young and I'm still learning so I may find new interests tomorrow but I will always have a love for working with young people and a passion for improving people's lives.

Fiona seems to have sold Michael Patterson on the idea of community work:

How could I get involved with YouthNet? I really like the ethos behind the work.

Fiona said:

Really glad to hear it! If you are looking for volunteering opportunities at YouthNet then go to www.do-it.org.uk, search under the postcode of N1 0PQ and you will see a list of all our opportunities.

Moderator asked:

Are you excited about tomorrow? What do you think your chances are of winning the award?

Jesse said:

I am really excited about tomorrow. I have absolutely no idea if I'll win or not. All of the finalists are of an excellent standard in their fields, each deserving of a Whitbread Young Achievers Award.