PCH is proud to be supporting an inspirational young person following their win at the 2026 Plymouth Youth Awards.
PCH sponsored the Young Neighbourhood Hero Award at the 2026 Plymouth Youth Awards, organised by YMCA Plymouth. The awards, which took place last weekend, celebrated the outstanding achievements of young people across the city and recognised those making a real difference in their communities.
After reviewing three exceptional finalists, our Executive Director of Homes and Communities, Michelle Dawson, presented the Young Neighbourhood Hero Award to Maya-Jacqueline Garbu, aged 16.
The judging panel was made up of PCH colleagues, including Dave Ryland, Head of Thriving Neighbourhoods; Rachael Fox, Communities and Partnerships Manager; Rebecca Hocking, Communications Officer; Richard Lunn, Senior Resident Involvement Coordinator; and Mary O’Leary, Head of Communications, Marketing and External Affairs.
Maya-Jacqueline impressed the judges with her dedication to supporting other young people through educational art holiday clubs and tutoring initiatives. Her commitment to helping others, combined with her ambition and community spirit, made her a worthy winner of the award.
The judging panel was also delighted to recognise fellow finalists Carla Porfir and Vivvy Saddington, whose achievements and contributions to their communities were equally inspiring. However, Maya-Jacqueline's story did not end on awards night.
During the awards process, PCH learned about Maya-Jacqueline's plans to take part in a month-long volunteering placement in Malaysia, where she will help build homes and schools for disadvantaged families. Having already worked hard to raise much of the funding herself, she was still seeking support to reach her target.
So impressed were we by Maya-Jacqueline's determination, compassion and commitment to helping others that PCH has now offered to fund the remainder required to make the trip possible.
Michelle Dawson (Executive Director of Homes & Communities) said:
“Maya-Jacqueline is an outstanding young person who embodies the values celebrated by the Plymouth Youth Awards. Her passion for helping others, both locally and internationally, is truly inspiring. We were delighted to sponsor the Young Neighbourhood Hero Award and even more delighted to be able to support Maya-Jacqueline as she prepares for this incredible opportunity. We can't wait to hear all about her experiences when she returns."
Maya-Jacqueline will travel to Malaysia later this year, where she will work alongside others to support communities through construction and development projects aimed at improving living and educational facilities.
Maya-Jacqueline said:
“Helping others is something I’ve been brought up to do from a young age, especially through my family. I’ve always believed that we should help others without expecting anything in return (wise words from my mum). I am ready for the upcoming hard work, even if this means stepping outside my comfort zone. I hope to return home with a greater appreciation of what I have, new skills and experience that will stay with me forever. This truly means a lot to me; by giving me this chance through sponsorship, I have the opportunity to do something good in this world.”
As part of this ongoing relationship, PCH has invited Maya-Jacqueline to visit us following her return to share her experiences and photographs from the trip with colleagues.
We look forward to following Maya-Jacqueline's journey and seeing the positive impact she continues to make both at home and abroad.
