WATCH: Cheryl Fernandez-Versini surprises young person with Young Achiever of the Year Award
Cheryl Fernandez-Versini has surprised a young person at a charity ceremony by presenting him with the Young Achiever of the Year award.
The X Factor judge and pop singer presented Adrian Maddocks with the prize at the North East Prince's Trust and Samsung Celebrate Success Awards last night.
The accolade was in recognition of how he had overcome bullying, special needs and post-traumatic stress disorder to succeed in the retail industry.
Fernandez-Versini said:
Maddocks, 20, is from Wallsend in North Tyneside - close to Newcastle upon Tyne, where Fernandez-Versini grew up.
Maddocks had faced bullying at primary school, where he was teased for his inability to read or write. He then attended a special needs school and went to college to study retail, but could not keep up and was asked to leave.
During two years of unemployment, he volunteered at a hospital, before joining the Prince's Trust programme Get into Retail. This helped him get a job at Tesco, and he has since been able to move into independent living.
After meeting Fernandez-Versini, Maddocks said: "I am speechless. To win this award and to meet Cheryl has been absolutely amazing."
Ms Fernandez-Versini said she wanted people to celebrate more north east success stories.