Maheep Kaur has won the Portsmouth City of Sanctuary award the ‘Outstanding Young Person’ at this year’s URBOND youth awards ceremony.

Maheep is originally from Afghanistan, she is a refugee who fled the Taliban with her parents and sisters.

In Afghanistan, Maheep and her sisters were not allowed to attend school and faced persecution as a result of their gender and religion.

Maheep was elected as Portsmouth’s Member of Youth Parliament in March 2024 after an incredible campaign with fierce competition. Since then, she has juggled her new role with completing her GCSEs as well as being a strong member of Ark Charter Academy‘s Student  Leadership Team, passing the baton to students in years below her.

She has thrived in education in the UK and remains a strong ambassador for youth in the City of Portsmouth. Many congratulations to Maheep on her award.