Emi Dylewski from Ivanhoe College has gained national recognition by winning the Youth Sports Trust's Leader of the Year at the YST's Girls Active Awards.

Girls Active has completely transformed Emi, from a girl lacking in self-confidence to one who takes a proactive role in encouraging other girls to get involved.

Emi now volunteers to help in PE on all occasions, leads part of the Netball Club and has even inspired school leaders to develop the girls' changing rooms to create a better environment.

Bethany Smith, PE teacher and Girls Active Lead at Ivanhoe College, said: "I am so happy for Emi and she really deserved the recognition.

"I couldn't be prouder of her for winning the award.

"She has come on a journey which has been inspired by Girls Active and she has not only improved her own well-being and leadership but she has also empowered other girls and enabled them to build their own confidence."

The Girls Active Awards recognise the impact that girls are having in shaping their PE curriculums and school sport to boost participation among fellow students.

The ceremony was held online on November 3, with shortlisted young people and their classmates, as well as parents/guardians joining the celebrations.

The event was hosted by former British sprinter and presenter of BBC Radio London's The Women's Sport Show Jeanette Kwakye, with a range of Girls Active Ambassadors, celebrity judges and sports stars presenting the evening's awards.

Girls Active aims to get more girls active and enjoying PE, school sport and physical activity.

The programme is developed by children's charity the Youth Sport Trust, delivered in partnership with Women in Sport and This Girl Can and funded through Sport England National Lottery funding.

Ali Oliver, Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust, said: "The Girls Active Awards are an important part of the journey for the girls through the programme, they allow them to reflect on and celebrate their own personal experiences and the impact of their work.

"Girls Active is as much about getting young people active as it is about harnessing young people's talents and encouraging them to make a difference to others both in and through sport.

"Our research around barriers to girls participating in physical activity and sport tells us that one of the best ways to engage girls is through encouragement from their peers - and that is exactly what Girls Active is about.

"In addition to Emi's success the Ivanhoe College Miss Motivators were also shortlisted for the Girls Active Group of the Year.

Miss Smith, said: 'The Miss Motivators have become an integral part of girls involvement in physical

activity at Ivanhoe.

"They help to represent the student voice of our girls in PE and act as role models to others in order to promote getting active.

"They are always thinking about ways in which to enable girls to develop their confidence and enjoyment in

order to maintain or improve their physical activity levels'

"The Girls Active project has had an outstanding impact on our Miss Motivators as well as the rest of the girls at Ivanhoe and I'm excited to see what the future holds for these fantastic young women."