A 15-year-old student from Featherstone High School in Southall has been honoured at City Hall with a London Youth Assembly Award for their outstanding contribution to the local community.

Mohammed Asraf, who is in Year 10, was celebrated for launching a pop-up food bank aimed at supporting families experiencing hardship during the cost-of-living crisis.

The initiative has provided vital food supplies and household essentials to dozens of local residents, helping to reduce food insecurity in the area.

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The award was presented at the London Youth Achievement Awards on Friday 2nd May 2025. The annual event is supported by the London Assembly to celebrate the achievements of young Londoners who are making a positive difference in their communities across various fields.

In 2025, the awards encompassed multiple categories, including:

• Innovative Initiative Award
• Young Leader Award
• Greener London Award
• Young Carer or Care Leaver Award
• Community Safety Award
• Youth Voice Award

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Mohammed won the Young Leader Award in recognition of his leadership and efforts in tackling local challenges.

Featherstone High School has expressed immense pride in the student's achievement, highlighting the school's commitment to fostering social responsibility and community engagement among its students.

Last year, Featherstone High School Headteacher Nathan Walters praised Mohammed’s kindness and initiative, saying: "To be so kind and thoughtful at this young age, Mohammed is a credit to his family and his school."

This recognition underscores the impact that young individuals can have on their communities and serves as an inspiration for others to take initiative in addressing local challenges.

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This isn’t the first time Mohammed has shown his commitment to helping the community—his efforts have previously earned him recognition at the Southall Community Alliance Awards.

Chair of the London Youth Assembly, Ashan Khehra, said:
"In every corner of London, young people are uplifting, building and changing our great city – but far too often their hard work goes unnoticed."

Chair of the London Assembly, Andrew Boff AM, said:
"I am delighted to have been able to recognise the achievements of some of London’s brilliant young people tonight, and to have thanked them for what they do."

Image courtesy of Featherstone High School: Mohammed Asraf