RBH youngsters scoop Mayor’s Awards

The Lower Falinge Junior Wardens with the Mayor, Councillor Peter Rush

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Lower Falinge Junior Wardens won the Contribution to the Community category at the Mayor of Rochdale’s Youth Awards 2014 for putting in tireless work to improve their area.

The youngsters were rewarded at the special event at Rochdale Town Hall, hosted by the Mayor, Councillor Peter Rush.

Projects they have been involved in include flower planting, litter-picking, graffiti removal and designing posters to address issues such as recycling and dog fouling.

The ceremony also saw Zenab Ali (14) from Greave Avenue, Rochdale named winner of the Leader or Volunteer category. Having been an active member of the Lower Falinge Junior Wardens for a number of years, Zenab now helps to organise events and activities for the younger children.

She also leads a social enterprise, Not Just A Little Business, set up by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) to sell Fairtrade products and help teach young people valuable business skills.

Antony Young (13) from Peel Lane, Heywood who was runner-up in the Peer Mentor category for his work in helping young people who have been bullied and others who are also lonely and short of confidence.

Like Zenab, he helps to run Not Just A Little Business and, by encouraging youngsters to join, helps them make new friends and develop the self-belief to come forward with ideas and suggestions.

RBH Community Action Worker Khalida Crossley said: "We have lots of wonderful young people living in our neighbourhoods and I’m delighted that so many of them were successful at the awards ceremony.

“It was a great night at the Town Hall and a fitting recognition of all the hard work that the youngsters put in to help their communities.”