Amble’s Good Young Citizen award 2024
Amble’s Good Young Citizen award was the brainchild of PCSO Darin Fawcett, who organised it for ten years, until Covid lockdowns brought a stop to such gatherings. Since then, his increased workload meant he was unable to continue to organise the event, so this year, Amble Development Trust worked together with Amble Town Council and Warkworth Parish Council to reinstate this event, which celebrates outstanding behaviour from young people at home, in school and in the community. Prizes are donated by local businesses.
Ava Tibbitts is a past winner of the Good Young Citizen award – she won it in 2015, so who better to give us an update on this year’s winners.
Front row: l-r: Eden, Masie, Nancy and overall winner Cora. Back row: Inspector Thomas Ashley (Northumbria Police), Matthew Connolly (Amble Youth Project + Amble Development Trust), Lizzie Jackson (Amble First School), Jonathan Booth (Warkworth First School), Craig Weir (Amble Town Council), PCSO Darin Fawcett (Northumbria Police), Ann Burke (Warkworth Parish Council), Paul Heeley (Amble Links First School)
Amble is well known as the friendliest port, a name which is well represented at the Good Citizen Awards. PC Darin was delighted to be back after 4 years to acknowledge the young people’s achievements and continue the tradition of rewarding positive behaviour.
Nine years ago I won the award, which made it particularly emotional to be able to see a whole new set of people who work so hard for their community, school and families. To me, the award really epitomises the beauty of living in a small town and feeling connected to the community.
A wonderful cake was donated by The Farm Bakery
The 4 nominees were Cora, Nancy, Maisie and Eden, from Amble Links, Amble First, Warkworth First, and the Amble Youth Project respectively.
Nancy
Year 3 student Nancy was nominated for her work donating to the local food bank, a sponsored walk for the Epilepsy Society and her enjoyment of litter picking, among other things. Nancy’s mam described her as ‘very driven’, with her next project being a coastal walk with the school- dressed as unicorns!
Masie
Warkworth headteacher Mr Booth nominated Maisie specifically because last year she raised over £1,000 by chopping off her hair for the Princess Trust. Not only was money raised, the hair itself was donated to children suffering from hair loss. Mr Booth emphasised that she does not like the limelight, but is a good person intrinsically. Maisie’s mam added that she is ‘a really kind, thoughtful person’ as well as ‘a fantastic sister and friend.’
Eden
Eden is the first person to be nominated for the award by the Amble Youth Project. She is known by the Ambler for her contributions to Artograffi, as well as a regular attendee of the Youth Project’s holiday programmes. Most significantly, she has started her own jewellery making business and donated some of the profits to the AYP so they could continue their important work. Eden also told me she wants to raise more awareness for the AYP so that more families can be benefited by the programmes they provide.
Cora from Amble Links School won the overall prize. She is pictured with Ann Burke (chair of Warkworth Parish Council), Craig Weir (Mayor of Amble Town Council) and PCSO Darin Fawcett
Overall winner: Cora
Finally, the winner Cora, whose list of achievements and activities was extensive to say the least. Mr Heeley spoke highly of Cora’s involvement in a plethora of sports from gymnastics to netball to kickboxing, and her passion for Parkrun, where she both runs and volunteers at Druridge Bay. As well as this, Cora raised nearly £200 by running the Children’s Cancer Run, making her an excellent and deserving winner. Cora’s mam said she was ‘over the moon’ that Cora had won and explained that Cora ‘enjoys doing all of these things’ and often asks to do them without input.
Each of the young people were given goody bags and vouchers to celebrate their good deeds, and Cora won a brand new scooter provided by Spurrelis. More importantly however, I see the awards as providing a reason for continuing to be excellent people in the future, and gives an incentive for others to do the same. Local businesses, council members, teachers and of course the incredible nominees all came together to make the ceremony happen, and to me that is what makes Amble such a wonderful place.
Ava Tibbitts
