2024 Youth Activist of the Year Madie Toplass, Thistley Hough Academy, Stoke-on-Trent
Madie’s passion, drive and kindness knows no bounds, and it’s her brilliant work bringing positive change to her community that caught our attention.
Channelling her love of baking, the Year 11 student set up a business, making and selling cakes to raise money for local charities, such as the Big Sleep Out and Stoke-on-Trent’s Better Together charity.
Over the last five years, she’s raised more than £8,000 for her school, donating it to the Food Department, as well as providing seeds so younger students can learn to grow. Madie also uses the money from selling her bakes to organise activities both at school and in the community to inspire young people at risk of violence to learn basic cooking skills. She’s worked to create a Youth Pod, which provides a safe space for teenagers, teaching them cooking skills, such as pizza-making on a budget.
We’re so impressed with Madie’s compassion and drive for change – a true activist.
Celebrity judge George Webster says, “Madie does so much incredible work in and out of school. I’m so proud of what she’s achieved – especially running a youth pod to teach teenagers to cook and inspiring others to provide food for local families in need. I think it’s important to share the brilliant things that happen in front of us, as well as behind the scenes, and it’s really important to recognise the brilliant work of young people – it’s not just adults that can change things, kids can too!”
I’M DOING THE TWO THINGS I LOVE THE MOST – BAKING AND RAISING MONEY FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED IT
– Madie Toplass
Madison Toplass is a Year 11 student in Stoke-on-Trent, who has dedicated so much of her life to helping others through her love of baking…
Madie, how do you feel being Youth Activist of the year?
I’m very pleased and proud and very overwhelmed, because I think all of the people deserved to win.
You’ve raised so much money for the school, £8000+ – what drives you?
My mum works in the community and I could see that some people needed help. I’ve always had the enthusiasm to work and bake, then I realised I could put them together – do what I love by baking and also raise money and spread awareness for the community. So it was like doing two things I loved. I’ve always been cooking and baking with my dad. My mum does the community side and my dad’s like my cooking or baking friend.
What is your secret?
I want to do my best, so I like everything planned, and I make sure everything’s on time. I don’t like failing! I always think that if I can push it as much as I can, then it should go the best it can go.
What is your speciality?
At the minute, I’d say it’s my brownies. Everyone loves them. But I love to make cupcakes and be creative with the icing and buttercreams.
How do you find time to do all of this and school work?
I don’t know. I just do. Also I think there’s a certain negative stereotype around young people and I want to change that, because that’s not all young people. So this is just the start for me.
Any plans for what you’re going to do next?
I’m not sure. I know that I want to carry on helping people in the community, but what that looks like, I’ve no idea at the moment.
We think the world will be your oyster! Do you think cooking is something that should be taught at school?
Yeah, it should definitely be a part of the curriculum. Because it’s something that everyone needs to do, and if you’re not doing it, you’re not getting the right nutrition, and without it your body won’t grow and function properly. It’s something everyone needs to know.
What advice do you have for other young people?
If you’ve got an idea or you’ve got something that you want to do, don’t be scared, put all your effort into it because if you put your effort into it, the outcome will be positive, so believe in yourself.
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Julia Mottershead, Madie’s food tech teacher, tells us why she nominated her…
“When I saw the awards, Madie was an obvious choice, because she’s always raising money for local charities – she’s so driven. And I think there are so many people who would benefit from seeing what Madie is doing. She’s setting the example to lead the way, that you’re never too young to get involved. It’s just about finding your path and doing it one step at a time. Madie is showing other young people what’s possible.
I can see that she’s changing the ethos of the school – she’s inspiring more people to do charity events, raising money for good causes, they all look up to her. She’s said to me: ‘I try to take every single opportunity that’s in front of me’. And that’s literally what she does.”
Madie’s mum Sally talks to us…
“I’m so proud of Madison, she works extremely hard. There’s never a quiet moment in our house, she’s always in the kitchen, with an idea of raising money. I think because I work in Family Support, she’s seen homelessness, she sees the families that haven’t got any money, she’s seen the people who come to access food banks. And because she is a caring person, she thinks, ‘what can I do to help?’ I can sell my cakes and I can raise some money in that, and that’s what she’s done.’
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