A YOUNG person from Coventry has been given a special award from the Lord Lieutenant for the way she has supported her local community.
Grace Bullman, from Finham Park School, used a wheelbarrow to go round the streets locally and give books and teddies to children.
Following her sterling efforts Grace, and others from across the West Midlands have been given a West Midlands Lieutenancy Young Active Citizen Award.
The last year has been particularly tough for young people, struggling with home-schooling and without daily contact with friends and their wider support groups.
Despite these challenges many young people – like Grace – have shown remarkable resilience and a number have been involved in helping others in the community who they view as having a harder time than them.
The West Midlands Lieutenancy aims to reward and celebrate people doing extraordinary things to support their community and each year individuals and charity volunteers are recognised through the established Honours system.
Until last year there has not been a special award for young people ‘going the extra mile’ to help others but it was decided to introduce one to acknowledge the outstanding contribution young people were making during the pandemic and to continue this award in future years to highlight the incredible things young people do.
The West Midlands Lieutenancy Young Active Citizen Award was launched last autumn and schools across the region were invited to share stories of pupils who they knew were contributing in amazing ways.
Nominations came from across the region with young people showing caring, dedication and passion to help others. As well as dedicating many hours of volunteering, many showed initiative and imagination in how they were helping others.
Grace will receive a signed certificate from the Lord-Lieutenant, John Crabtree OBE, who is delighted with the response. He said;
He said: “We knew young people were doing some fantastic activities to help others but the new award has provided an opportunity to find out how much is going on and how young people are contributing.
“It is hugely heart-warming to hear their stories and I am impressed with their ingenuity and the lengths they have gone to make such a positive contribution to help others.
“I am looking forward to meeting many of them later in the year and I am grateful for all the schools that helped highlight their endeavours to us.”
From all 38 nominations, 14 young people were chosen to meet the Lord-Lieutenant to receive their prize at a ceremony later in the year (when restrictions allow).
