Nearly 100 Guides from south and west London, including Richmond and Sutton, came together to receive prestigious Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Awards in Chessington.

The event, hosted at the Kings Centre on May 1, honoured its winners, who are aged between 11 and 25, with medallions, framed certificates and also cheques for £250 each.

In addition, 13 adults were celebrated with Leader Awards on the night as well.

Among the honorees was 12-year-old Freya Shury-Smith, from Wallington, who has been described as a “positive member of the unit”.

“Always willing to try things”, her peers say she helps making every meeting enjoyable for everyone else.

Freya spent her £250 grant from the Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Awards on a trip to her local park, where they had a BBQ and played a game of rounders.

She was joined by 14-year-old Abbie Cullen from Cheam, who has been a Guide for just over four years now.

She has helped to run stalls, participated in quiz nights and also helped to raise money for a group of fellow Guides in the Caribbean following a hurricane in 2017.

Abbie spent her grant on a poppy making workshop for her unit.

Richmond winners included 13-year-old Tean Bourdeaux, from Twickenham, whose peers say they have noticed a “real development” in her confidence since she joined them.

Tean is credited with being a “great help” at her unit’s camping visits, while her Rainbow leaders describe her as “reliable”.

In the same unit as Tean is Abi Leighton, also 13 and from Twickenham, who was honoured with a Jack Petchey Achievement Award as well.

Like Tean, Abi is known for being a talented musician and brings these skills with her to her unit’s meetings.

The duo participated in their unit’s Christmas show and also regularly get involved in their church’s musical activities as well.

Both Abi and Tean decided to spend their grant on new equipment for their unit.

Guides in south and west London have received more than £350,000 from the Jack Petchey Foundation since funding began in 2008.