Mayor's award boosts Blaine Bennett

Blaine Bennett with Mayor Ray Dutton

Blaine Bennett credits a recent boost in confidence and learning progress to the Mayor’s Youth Awards.

Blaine recently received an award in the 2016 Mayor’s Youth Awards for his progress and success in overcoming emotional and learning barriers.

The Level One Art and Design student at Hopwood Hall College was nominated for the award after his Art and Design final project was displayed in the Touchstones Rochdale.

Blaine has gained huge amounts of independence and life skills he previously found difficult to develop.

Blaine was nominated for the award by Nicola Metcalfe, Student Support Manager at the college "to acknowledge his huge achievements". Nicola said: “Blaine has achieved outstanding success and is a true inspiration to others, his development since he joined us in 2015 has been huge.

"The Mayor’s Youth Award was an excellent opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments made by the learners in college and it has really helped continue Blaine’s personal and academic advancement.”

Blaine said: “The ceremony was really nice, the Town Hall is a beautiful building and the Mayor of Rochdale was a very pleasant man.

“Having such a recognition of my achievements has made me feel great, the award has really boosted my belief in achieving my highest targets.

“I am very pleased and proud of myself. Everyone was born and raised in different ways, if you can’t take risks then you can’t create a future.”