Young role models honoured

LIVERPOOL'S Lord Mayor, a Commonwealth gold medal winner and a soap star are to honour almost 500 young role models at an Oscars style event on Thursday 11 March.

The "Duke of Edinburgh's Award Ceremony" has been organised by the city council's Integrated Youth and Play Service.

It will see 407 young people from schools and youth centres who have completed the bronze, silver and gold stages of the scheme presented with certificates at the BT Convention Centre.

Also honoured will be 36 "Street Mates" aged 16-19 who helped with the city's Splash programme of school holiday activities for young people. They completed a mentoring scheme to help, assist and buddy up with youngsters who may be shy and otherwise unwilling to take part.

A further 41 "Health Mates" who encourage younger people to live a healthier lifestyle through eating sensibly and exercising will also be recognised.

Helping present the awards will be Commonwealth gold medal swimmer David Carry and actor Anthony Quinlan, who plays Gilly Roach in Hollyoaks.

Lord Mayor, Councillor Mike Storey, said: "This is a great chance to showcase the terrific number of talented young people we have in Liverpool.

"By becoming Street Mates and Health Mates and taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme they are developing valuable team building and people skills which will serve them well when they start work.

"It also gives them structured, rewarding activities to take part in during their spare time and prevent them from just hanging round on the streets.

"Universities and employers regard this type of work extremely highly, and that is why we are keen to encourage as many young people as possible to do something positive in their spare time.

"The aim is to create a new generation of people who give something back to the local community throughout their life."

Entertainment will be provided by a number of talented young performers, including song and dance from St John Bosco Arts College, SFX College Choir, Catalystics and Cody Urban Dance. 

More than a thousand young people at schools and youth centres are currently enrolled in Duke of Edinburgh in Liverpool.

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