A TOTAL of 142 Met Police Volunteer Police Cadets received Jack Petchey Foundation Achievement Awards at The Great Hall, Kensington, on Sunday.

The event honoured winners aged 11-25, who received medallions to go with their framed certificate and a cheque for £200, already presented.

They were nominated by their peers and leaders, winning awards for a variety of achievements, big and small, but always for doing their best.

A sum of £391,000 has been awarded by JPF to the volunteer cadets since 2000.

The winners included Robson Lawrence, 17, from Hillingdon. He is a member of the Specialist Crime Youth Council.

Robson undertook a series of tough on-line challenges, culminating in a personal presentation to 100 guests at New Scotland Yard.

He showed great courage and humility in describing how he had been bullied to the point that his confidence was damaged and he had made several suicide attempts.

JPF Coordinator Lucy O’Mahony said: “Robson is regarded as a very active and important member of the Met Volunteer Police Cadets. His contributions are so significant when we understand what was going on in his private life."

The grant award was spent on a disc jockey for the cadets’ Christmas party.