David Blunkett poses with some of the winners
An award scheme for young people, set up in
memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, is going
UK-wide after a successful pilot year.
The move was
confirmed by the
Education Secretary,
David Blunkett, as he
presented the first
awards to more than 80
secondary school pupils
at a ceremony at the
Royal Society of Arts in London.
They had won Diana Princess of Wales
Memorial Awards as a result of improving the
lives of others or enhancing their communities,
or showing "exemplary progress in their
personal development in adverse
circumstances".
Youngsters aged 11 to 18 were nominated for
such things as fundraising for local hospitals,
campaigning for safer roads, or inventing
gadgets to make school life easier for pupils
with disabilities.
Some had persuaded truanting pupils to return
to school, and others had passed exams while
seriously ill.
Memorial match
Fifteen-year-old Omar Anayat of Beardwood
High School, Blackburn, organised a football
match in memory of a friend, raising £1,300 for
Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.
Natalie Peirce, 15, of
Stewards School in
Harlow, Essex, acted
as a role model for
younger pupils to
encourage them to
attend school.
Leona Cummings and
Claire Laird from Girvan
Academy in South
Ayrshire recorded audio
tapes for visually
impaired children and
improved links between
local primary and secondary schools.
A group of pupils from Brookfield High School,
Knowlsey - Lisa Hart, Ian McArdle, Danielle
Williams, Stephen Woolvine, Lucy Hayes and
Jenny Houghton - set up a sports club for
pupils at a local special school.
'Active citizenship'
As he congratulated them, Mr Blunkett said:
"Society often fails to recognise the
commitment and dedication shown by children.
"This scheme celebrates the achievements of
those young people who help others and give
time and effort to their school and the wider
community.
"It's good to see so many young people making
a positive contribution - they're an example to
us all.
"What this award brings home is that other
achievements can be just as valuable as
academic results.
"Anything which encourages children and
young people to take part in the life of their
community should be welcomed by all.
"The award scheme will support in a practical
way the development of active citizenship in
schools and is very much a part of the
government's broader drive to sustain and
improve neighbourhoods and communities."
The scheme is administered by the charity
Education Extra. Nomination forms for the
second year are being sent this week to all
secondary, independent, middle and special
schools in the UK.
They can nominate individuals or a group of up
to six pupils.
~*~
Girl who cared for family wins Diana award(UK Times)
BY ELIZABETH JUDGE
A TEENAGE girl who dropped out of school to care for her three brothers after their father died of a heroin overdose told her story to hundreds of children yesterday at the launch of an awards ceremony to commemorate the life of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Natalie Peirce, 15, from Stewards School in Harlow, Essex, dropped out when she was 13. Her father, John, had died when she was six and her mother, Helen, also a drug user, was unable properly to look after Natalie and her three brothers, aged ten, five and two. For a year Natalie played the role of mother, looking after home and family.
Yesterday Natalie, who is back at school and about to sit eight GSCEs, received a Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Award for Young People, for her work in encouraging other young people to return to school. She has now been fostered by her mother's sister along with her eldest brother, and her mother is recovering.
More than 200 secondary school pupils were given the awards at a ceremony at the Royal Arts Society in West London hosted by David Blunkett, the Education Secretary.
The project was one of four set up by the Diana, Princess of Wales Committee, to commemorate her life. The awards, set up last September, celebrate achievements by those aged from 11 to 18.
Marie Erwood, Natalie's teacher, said: "She is a superb role model for thousands of other children, a living example of social inclusion."
Natalie was more modest. "I just hope everyone else who has one [award] is as proud as I am. I look at myself, how I used to be then, look at myself now, and I realise that though it is hard you can turn your turn life around."
She said that Mr Blunkett had asked her if she would help him to help other children. "I said I would love to help him in any way I could."