Gemma Gibson

Gemma Gibson, 24, a single mum, who runs a radio station for girls which concentrates on positive attitudes, was the winner in our 17 – 25s age category. She also won the overall Anthony Walker Memorial Prize.

Gemma particularly impressed the judges because of the way she has overcome a difficult upbringing and has used those experiences to be a force for good in her community. Ruth Gledhill, Religion correspondent of The Times, and one of the Champions of Respect judges, perhaps summed up the feeling of the judges best. "It is a story that inspires simultaneous prayer and weeping."

Gemma’s radio station is called Radio Sassyfm. She is also involved in anti-bullying campaigns on the estate she lives on in Shepherd’s Bush and has won the confidence of both black and white youths on the estate.

Gemma said, "I had a challenging childhood as I grew up in a care environment. There are always two ways to go when you have a difficult upbringing. And as someone who has come out the other side I want to say that there is a way to have hope in yourself. Now I have come to this understanding of life and can be positive I don’t want to keep that inside, I want to pass it on."

Recently Gemma ran a couple of road shows at local schools which gave her the opportunity to discuss why she only plays tracks with positive lyrics.

Gemma’s stint as a DJ has had a profound effect on one young man’s life. The Sassyfm playlist is selected carefully, with songs which glorify crime or ill treating women strictly off limits. One reformed bad boy, rapper R-9, was so affected by Sassy’s message that he changed his ways.

R-9 keeps the message alive in his track - They Made Me Do It - which is about not giving in to peer pressure.