Express & Star

Bumper prize awaits Wolverhampton Young Citizen of the Year

This year's Wolverhampton Young Citizen of the Year Award has been launched - with a bumper prize of £500 up for grabs for the winner.

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The city's five Rotary clubs have joined forces to to launch their third annual search to find young people who are doing their bit to act as ambassadors for Wolverhampton by helping others in their communities.

To qualify, nominees must be under the age of 19 on August 31, 2016, and live, work or study in Wolverhampton.

Rotarian Roger Timbrell, chairman of the organising committee, said: "The award is all about celebrating young people who go that extra mile to help others.

"Last year the quality of applicants was exceptionally high and we hope to go from strength to strength this year.

"We are hoping to reach more young people by getting the message out there to schools, youth clubs and any organisations who can help us to recognise the good work that people do."

The award was launched at a ceremony at the Mount Hotel in Tettenhall, which featured speeches from last year's winner Ramnik Uppal, from Willenhall, and runners up Kashmire Hawker and Alfie Baugh.

Ramnik Uppal, centre, with (left-right) Kashmire Hawker, judging team chair Sir Geoff Hampton, Tettenhall Rotary Club president Robin Morrison, mayor of Wolverhampton Ian Brookfield, Young Citizen of The Year organisation committee chairman Roger Timbrell and runner-up Alfie Baugh

Former Wolverhampton Girls' High student Ms Uppal, aged 19, is now studying medicine at Cambridge University.

She landed last year's award after impressing the judging panel with her selfless attitude towards helping others, which included completing voluntary work at a care home and a local Barnardo's shop.

She said: "It was both a great honour and a humbling experience to win last year's award."

The award is dedicated to Tom Warren, a Wolverhampton Rotarian who helped lay the groundwork for the formation of the United Nations and become only the second Briton ever to lead Rotary International throughout the world.

The closing date for nominations is April 30, 2016.

Nomination forms are available in Waitrose on Penn Road and in the Civic Centre reception, or online via wolverhamptonyoungcitizen.co.uk

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