Young People of the Year or 'YOPEY' - the competition that reveals, recognises and rewards young unsung heroes and has been endorsed by two Prime Ministers - is being sponsored by Bedford College.

David Cameron echoed the praise of Gordon Brown when he said of winners “their common trait was their own determination; their desire to succeed; and their resolve to make a difference”.

There will be £2,000 for young Bedfordshire people, aged 10-25, to win. Cash prizes include £1,000 for the Young Person of the Year and £250 Junior Young Person of the Year for the best entry aged up to 15.

The six-month search will culminate in a lavish awards ceremony - celebrating young heroes - to be staged at the Mansion House at Shuttleworth Park.  

Bedford College Principal and Chief Executive Ian Pryce said: “"Helping young people on the road to success is what we believe we do best at Bedford College. Some of our former students have been among those nominated in earlier YOPEY awards and we hope others will step forward this year to showcase their successes.”

Last year's £1,000 winner, 21-year-old Danny Kiteley, of St Peters Avenue, Arlesey, said: “The rewards that I have got out of winning the award are amazing. It's helped me with jobs and general life factors. It has encouraged me to do even more volunteering to help my community.” 

2008 £1,000 winner, 20-year-old Sabath Shazia, of Malvern Road, Luton, said: "Young People of the Year is an amazing organisation where young people are recognised for the hard work they do. Since I won first prize in 2008, it has completely changed my life. I am now more recognised, and respected, for the work I do for the community. I am still part of YOPEY as I have volunteered to be a youth Judge in Beds and Bucks.”

Last year's £500 junior winner, 15-year-old Harry Brindle, of Gladstone Street, Bedford, said: “I think it's great that young people are finally being recognised for doing good. The media is very negative about young people but YOPEY helps to counteract this - which is something that not many people are prepared to do. This attitude inspires me, and many others, to do our best to do something worthwhile.”

Last year's £250 second-place winner 21-year-old Sarah Hunt, of St Pauls Road, Luton, said: “Being a YOPEY winner has helped me to open up more new guiding units within my local area. YOPEY really must continue its very valuable work throughout the country as it is one of the few awards dedicated solely to young people. This in turn inspires young people to do even more in the community as they see that it is sometimes appreciated by adults.”

Sixteen-year-old Sarah Adeniji, of Tenby Drive, Luton, who was a finalist last year, said: “YOPEY has opened a great deal of doors for me. I am able to express the work I do for people around the Luton community and watching this success expand is an honour.”

Last year a group of unemployed young men who did up the Meadow Way Community Centre, Leighton Buzzard, came third and shared £125. One of them, Philip Ansell, 19, said: “The YOPEY awards helped us to gain confidence. We have learnt more skills by making benches for Pages Park and children-size ones for Hockliffe Lower School.  We have also been asked to revamp a section of canal from Tring to Mentmove, which I'm looking forward to.”

Founder Tony Gearing, a former national newspaper journalist who set up YOPEY to give young people a fairer image, said: “This year's YOPEY is already feeling like part of that Big Society the new Government is talking about with so many different organizations involved. Now we need more people, teachers, parents, youth workers, to get involved and nominate young positive role models they know.”

* Do you know a young person who goes that extra mile to help others and deserves recognition and the chance to win a cash prize? Nominees must be aged between 10-25, live, study, or work in Bedfordshire, and give to others in this country or abroad. 

To nominate log on to http://www.yopey.org/ or write to Young People of the Year, PO Box 103, Hare Street, Ware, SG9 OXD, enclosing an SAE, for an entry form. Young people can nominate friends or themselves.