Croydon Council last night celebrated 50 inspirational young people at the Good Citizenship Awards 2018 after they were nominated for helping others and their community.
The Year 6 pupils from 25 different primary schools across Croydon were invited to attend the ceremony at The Croydon Conference Centre in Surrey Street along with their families, teachers and council leaders.
Their many achievements ranged from helping the homeless to caring for the environment; from fundraising to supporting friends; from being a role model for younger people to caring for their elders.
All 50 nominees were presented with certificates by Croydon’s Deputy Mayor, Councillor Humayun Kabir, and Councillor Alisa Flemming, cabinet member for children, young people and learning.
The Good Citizenship Awards are an annual event organised by the council to celebrate young people’s achievements and encourage them to be good citizens. Croydon is also celebrating young people and encouraging them to make positive life choices through its Choose Your Future campaign.
Georgina Parker, 11, a pupil at Forest Academy in Bridle Road, explained why she was nominated: “At school I’m in the gardening club so I helped set up the eco system and I help my teacher at lunch and break, setting the classroom up for crafts. I try to be nice to everyone and I look after people if they need a friend. I’m really happy and surprised to be nominated because I don’t usually get awards – it’s usually other people.”
“I feel an incredible sense of pride in these young people – their stories are inspirational and I want to thank each one of them. If we as a community want young people to make the right choices in life, we need to nurture them, encourage them and celebrate their achievements and that is what The Good Citizenship Awards and our Choose Your Future campaign are all about.”
Councillor Alisa Flemming, cabinet member for children, young people and learning
Kenley Primary School, Hyde Road, was awarded the school shield for good citizenship, for their Green Ambassadors project which encourages pupils to be more environmentally friendly, as well as anti-bullying work and their choir visiting a local retirement home.
