Youngsters honoured in Arun Youth Awards

Split across three age groups, the awards were presented by Arun District Council chairman Tony Squires at the Arun Civic Centre in Littlehampton.

The winners of each age group won glass trophies and 70. Runners-up took home 35 and nominees were awarded certificates.

The overall winner was 17-year-old Margaret Wood of West Way, Wick, Littlehampton, who was nominated in the 17-19 age group for her extensive work as an Outset Millennium volunteer in the town.

Margaret began volunteering while she was a member of the Arun Dolphins disabled swimming club and has given more than 500 hours of her time helping in the community.

She currently volunteers at the St Barnabas' charity shop in Wick every Saturday morning.

Nominations went to Kate Kirkby-Bott, of Arundel, and Kathryn Sensier, of Littlehampton, and Emmalene Fulton, of Barnham.

Kate is a volunteer at the intermediate club at Westergate youth wing and has completed more than 200 hours of volunteering as a Millennium volunteer.

She is now a paid worker at the club and supports a team of 10 volunteers who work there.

Kathryn has been a dedicated volunteer at the WIRE Project for the last three years.

Kathryn has been involved with WIRE's playschemes and after-school clubs and at last year's Festival of Wick was leader of a group of 45 children in the Live Wires playscheme, which ran every day for a week.

Emmalene is a talented musician and vocalist, who has been involved in many fund-raising activities, including a concert organised in aid of the Hope and Homes for Children charity.

She has also toured voluntarily as a children's escort with a local theatre company, supervising younger members of the cast.

Tom Walker, of Arundel, came second in the 11-13 age group, having been nominated for his voluntary work in promoting the ecological ethos at The Angmering School, where he is a pupil.

With his help, the school has achieved a bronze award in the national ECO Schools programme. Elected by his peers as chairman, Tom also runs lunchtime student clubs at the school and is the students' main voice on ecological issues and has helped design the new school garden.

Winner of this section was Sarita Mair, from Bognor Regis.

Nominations in the 11-13 age group went to Kyran Schmidt and Lydia Clayton, both from Littlehampton.

Kyran writes a regular page for Wellspring West Sussex, a quarterly newsletter for children and young people with disabilities, as well as for their parents and carers.

His page includes his own ideas and original artwork and he also gives more of his free time to help the charity.

Lydia was nominated for her charity work collecting shoe boxes packed with Christmas presents, including toys, toiletries and games for needy children around the world.

Winner of the 14-16 age group, Josh Bellamy, from Littlehampton, is a volunteer with The WIRE, Arun Community Church and Flora McDonald School's after school club, helping children with homework.

He has helped at various playschemes during the school holidays and helps the Arun Community Church run its audio/visual equipment.

Nominations went to Ellis Lund, from Arundel, and Adam Cox, from Littlehampton.

Ellis was nominated for an award for his work promoting the ecological ethos at The Angmering School, helping it gain a bronze award in the national ECO schools programme.

Adam was nominated for his voluntary work at East Preston Youth Club, where he helps most evenings throughout the week.

Adam also represents the young people from the club at the management committee meetings.

The awards also gave an opportunity for the efforts of Arun's Youth Council to be recognised and rewarded.

Mr Squires presented his special awards to the following youth councillors.

Roberta Hofmann won the media award, the award for special achievement was given to Matt Hoff, James Peters won best newcomer and the award for long service went to joint winners Ellie Bingham and Jayne Walsh, who also won the award for commitment.