Ask The Question CIC volunteer nominated for Young Volunteer of the Year at Calderdale Community Spirit Awards 2023

Ask The Question CIC are delighted that one of their top volunteers, Ella Jancovich, has been nominated as ‘Young Volunteer of the Year’ at the Calderdale Community Spirit Awards. 

Ella, who is 19, has been one of the CIC’s top volunteers over the past 12 months. She has headed up their fundraising taskforce, coming up with countless new initiatives to raise money for the vital organisation, as well as being a youth leader for the ‘#IWill’ course to promote youth social action, as funded by the Community Foundation for Calderdale. 

Ask The Question CIC provides one-to-one tuition and mentorship to children and teenagers in Calderdale who have experienced adverse childhood experiences, in particular those who have suffered as a result of abuse, neglect and trauma. They have worked with over 120 students since they were formally founded in 2017, over half of which have had experience of local authority care.

Ella Jancovich

Students who attend sessions through Ask The Question have consistently reached their potential, with every student passing their maths and english GCSE, and three students this year going on to attend a Russell Group University. They recently celebrated all of their 11+ students passing the 11+ exam.

The nomination means that young volunteer Ella will be part of the evening on 23rd November at The Venue in Barkisland. The event, hosted by the Community Foundation for Calderdale, is this year encouraging attendees to wear something already in their wardrobe, as opposed to buying something new for the awards ceremony, and also will be encouraging attendees to choose the vegetarian option to reduce their carbon footprint. 

Hawley Group are sponsoring the filming of finalists at the awards ceremony too, with all volunteers and organisations being able to film a short, 60 second clip about why they’re a finalist, and will be able to use the video afterwards too. 

Jo Austin, founder of Ask The Question CIC, said, “I am absolutely delighted that one of our young volunteers, Ella, has been chosen as a finalist at this year’s Community Spirit Awards. The awards are a really exciting evening in the Calderdale calendar, and Ella absolutely deserves recognition for the fantastic work she has done at Ask The Question CIC over the past 12 months.”

Ella Jancovich, nominee for Young Volunteer of the Year, said, “I’d like to thank the Community Foundation for Calderdale for even considering me as a finalist! There are some fantastic groups and individuals nominated this year, and it is a joy to be nominated alongside them. I am tremendously proud of the work I’ve done for Ask The Question CIC, supporting their fantastic students over the past 12 months, and I can’t wait for the Awards evening in November.”