Young Heritage Hero Award

This week, our Proud Places Ambassador Destine Pinzi received The Heritage Alliance's prestigious Young Heritage Hero Award, which celebrates the contribution of a volunteer under the age of 30 who has gone above and beyond for a heritage organisation.

Destine started volunteering with Heritage of London Trust's Proud Places programme three years ago when she was just 15 and has been a fantastic support throughout her time with us. She has helped facilitate visits and workshops for more than 500 young people and contributed to over fifteen Heritage of London Trust sites and projects, including Bowie Bandstand, Columbia Market Gates and Merton Priory Wall.

She led community engagement with the Leaning Woman project, designing posters and knocking on doors with primary school pupils to build community awareness of the restoration.

She has given speeches at the House of Lords for a Speakers Trust event, the Proud Places Conference at Burlington House in 2023, and at a King’s College Heritage Careers event in 2024. Since 2023, she has addressed multiple audiences, receiving glowing feedback for her passion and eloquence.

On her role as Proud Places ambassador, Destine says:

"Proud Places has helped me grow in ways I didn’t expect, such as speaking in Parliament and leading workshops with young people from a wide range of backgrounds. The Proud Places programme has helped me connect with my community by sparking my interest in the history behind where I live. I’m now studying Politics at university and I’m passionate about creating change, widening access and ensuring that heritage is inclusive for all generations."

Reflecting on her Young Heritage Hero award,

“Heritage shouldn't just be focused on kings or queens, but make it local, make it impactful to [young people]. How will it relate to me? How will it relate to my studies? How will it relate to my life? Young people need to see other young people who look like them doing this… I personally don't like mentioning race, but it has a part to play. Heritage needs to be more diverse because history shows everyone's story and not just one. Young people don't have a good relationship with history, so make it about them, because history is for everyone.”

We look forward to following Destine's journey as she continues to grow into the change-maker she has already started to become.

The Proud Places programme is generously supported by The Jones Day Foundation.