The 'Living For Sport' awards is an initiative from both Sky Sports and the Youth Sport Trust which takes athletes who have made it to the top of their sports and sends them to schools to inspire youngsters who are struggling.

One of the mentors, the 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Steve Frew, told insidethegames that it was a "privilege" to be involved in the project.

"Every school I go into is different," he said.

"Every time I meet a group of young people it is unique.

"If you can influence these people in a positive way then it's been worth it.

"Through the project it gives young people the confidence to step forwards and they find that they can achieve new things."

In all, 12 youngsters were given student awards from their respective regions across the UK, with Nick Wood (pictured) from The Lancaster School in the East Midlands winning the overall student of the year award.



He was inspired by the former Olympic boxer Dermot Gascoyne, a former sparring partner of world champions Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno, to take up the sport.

Other winners included Nahida Begum of Bedford Academy, Charlotte Dale of Macclesfield Academy, Shaquille Jack of Sir William Ramsay School, Zac Lavers from The Castle School, Yahya Muhieddine of Lampton School, Eoghan Doherty from St. Mary's Grammar School, Ethan Ashby from Llandarcy Community Centre and Mark Ferguson of Daldorch House School.

One of the other winners, Emma Cassell from Manor College of Technology, is a promising biathlete who hopes to compete at an Olympic Games while another, Abdul Jalil from Blue River Academy, came to the UK from Afghanistan without his family, friends or the ability to speak English.

The final winner was Lindsay McGlone, from Balby Carr Community College, who told insidethegames: "I honestly think it improves people's lives.

"When it started I walked around with my head held low, now I respect people and they respect me for who I am.

"I loved when Jenna Downing [the world inline skating champion] came in – it really inspired me and we enjoyed the fact that she cared about us."

Also recognised were the teachers of those pupils awarded, who had identified their needs and come to the Sky Sports Living For Sport programme to bring the athletes into their schools.

Speaking at the awards, the Sky Sports chief executive, Jeremy Darroch, paid tribute to the teachers and said that "London 2012 is a golden opportunity for us all to use the legacy of the Olympics to inspire youngsters."

Martin Reay of Budehaven Community School, Newbattle Community High School's Bob Foley and Darren Taxis of the Phoenix School were all recognised, with the latter winning the overall teacher prize.

After presenting the award winners with their trophies, Campbell told insidethegames: "It's a very powerful and rewarding feeling knowing you're making a difference.

"The majority of stories here today aren't about going to the Olympics, but about realising their full potential.

"It's been a great day to see the young people and the different projects, the progress they've made."

Campbell also told the audience at Wembley that it wasn't the starting point that mattered, but where you finished in life.

Baroness Sue Campbell, the chair of the Youth Sport Trust, was also present at the awards ceremony, and said: "This is a unique programme – no one else does this and it has changed the lives of thousands of people.

"One of the things which makes this programme is our athlete role models.

"It isn't the medals they've won but the journey they have made – they are examples of how you can live in difficult circumstances with great pride."

The former BMX world champion Mike Mullen, another of the mentors, said that the key thing when working with youngsters is to push them out of their comfort zone to give them the confidence in what they can do.

"[For me] the thing that stands out is making the step forward and pushing people outside their comfort zone, and making a difference to their lives," he said.

"To be a BMX rider every step you make is a step outside your comfort zone.

"You find who you are when you stretch that comfort zone – it gives you a sense of what you could be capable of, you step out and do something maybe a bit scary and uncomfortable.

"For me it was a way to try things on my own terms.

"What I realised is that I had to motivate and push myself – that gave me drive and belief."

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