Community star honoured at Lords

COMMUNITY champion Courtney Shaw with TV presenter and former Olympic champion Darren Campbell (left) and John Hum, People’s Health Trust chief executive

AN inspirational teenager has been honoured at the House of Lords for her efforts to make Oldham a better place.

Courtney Shaw was presented with a prize at the Connecting Communities Awards, a programme that aims to get young people more involved in the areas where they live.

Over the course of the programme, 16-year-old Courtney has gone from shy and inactive to challenging herself in a range of activities, from horse riding to sailing.

Connecting Communities is funded by People’s Health Trust — using money raised by society lotteries through the Health Lottery — and is run by the Youth Sport Trust.

The initiative works in 12 areas in the UK, including Oldham, to create a network of local people who feel inspired to undertake volunteering activity to benefit others in their community.

Over the past year, more than 400 young people have been involved in activities across the UK as part of this programme.

Courtney said: “It is a huge honour to be at the House of Lords to accept this award on behalf of Oldham.

“Connecting Communities is a fantastic initiative that has helped our community take part in regular, structured, and fun activities. It has helped me develop my own confidence and leadership.”

Olympic champion and TV presenter Darren Campbell, who made the presentation, said: “Well done to Courtney for her fantastic efforts in bringing the community in Oldham together.

email: dawnmarsden@oldham-chronicle.co.uk