#TogetherWeDid : Highlights from Levelling the Playing Field Regional Awards 2023

UYUK Team Manager Scott Arnott accepting UYUK Organisation of the Year Award at Levelling the Playing Field Regional Awards 2023_Photography by Ana-Maria

Levelling the Playing Field (LtPF) is a UK-based organisation using the power of sport to reduce over-representation in the youth justice system. On 1 March LtPF hosted their Regional Awards 2023 as a way to celebrate staff, role models, leaders and young people from across the LtPF network who have shown dedication, overcome adversity, inspired others and impacted positively on their community.

UYUK took home Organisation of the Year at LtPF Regional Awards 2023

Held at the flagship DECATHLON store in Surrey Quay, the event’s main message was captured in the powerful tagline #TogetherWeDid – a message we at Urban Yogis UK (UYUK) truly commend and believe in wholeheartedly.

And talking of commendations…Urban Yogis UK is incredibly proud to have won “London Organisation of the Year”. About the award, LtPF share how it was given in “recognition of the incredible impact working with young people in the community, as well as in schools and prisons, using yoga as a vehicle to improve physical and mental health.”

Commenting on UYUK win,  Team Manager Scott Arnott (pictured top with London Sport Trustee Sally Benatar) said: This is a massive recognition for the work the entire Urban Yogis team has done. We are really thrilled.

Huge congrats also to inspiring UYUK team member Emma Burdon for being nominated as “Role Model of the Year”. And from the whole team at UYUK, well done to all the nominees and winners, including Josie Furner, @london_thunder for “Young Person of the Year”; @StreetSoccerLDN for “Young Cohort of the Year”; @reaxhana, @F4CCharity for “Role Model of the Year”; and @palaceforlife /@streetsoccerldn for “Partnership of the Year”.

UYUK team member Emma Burdon Nominated for Role Model of the Year at Levelling the Playing Field Regional Awards 2023_Photography by Ana-Maria

UYUK team member Abi Barber leading group yoga session at Levelling the Playing Field Regional Awards 2023_Photography by Ana-Maria

Following the event, we caught up with UYUK director Ben Eckett who shared a few words with us:

“It’s a huge honour for Urban Yogis UK to have been awarded Organisation of the Year. We’re hugely proud of our work and using yoga as a tool to support young people and give them tools for how they manage their emotions, mental health and physical health on a daily basis. 

I think it’s important to also acknowledge Emma, one of the staff team members, was nominated for Role Model of the Year. 

Emma’s work within schools and communities has been absolutely amazing–supporting young people to understand the importance of healthy relationships. 

Levelling the Playing Field (LtPF) have been a huge support to Urban Yogis UK over the past two years, supporting us with funding, capacity building, training up staff, and our work in prisons. 

I’d just like to finish by saying we really support the work that LtPF do to increase young people’s opportunities within sport and we hope to be a partner of theirs for the long term.

Thank you to everyone that supports the Urban Yogis UK Team and organisation”. 

Abi from UYUK leading a yoga session at the Levelling the Playing Field Regional Awards 2023_Photography by Ana-Maria

Sit back, grab a cuppa’ and check out event highlights including group yoga sessions led by UYUK team members Emma Burdon and Abi Barber.

Click on the images below and scroll through the gallery:

View more blogs by visiting our News & Blog page, HERE, and follow Urban Yogis UK on Insta, HERE. 

Photography by Ana-Maria