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 The search is now on for The Philip Lawrence Awards winners of 2006!
Are you part of a group working to make things better in your area? Are
you inspiring other young people to make a difference? Then the folks at
the Philip Lawrence Awards want to hear from you.
Set up in memory of Philip Lawrence, a head teacher who was murdered
whilst trying to save a pupil from being attacked in 1995, the awards
recognise outstanding contributions by groups of young people aged 11 to
20 in their local community.
A huge variety of creative, sports and educational activities addressing
issues affecting their communities have one in the past, from skate
parks to youth cafes, help lines to magazines, conferences, videos and
much more.
The winning activities need to relate to at least one of the Philip
Lawrence Awards five core themes:
 Combating lawlessness and violence
Examples of past winners include the Awaaz Youth Project from Middlesex
which uses drama to educate people about domestic violence and its
impact. Other projects range from setting up drop-in centres and
providing one-to-one listening services to creating teaching packs and
videos on crime and vandalism, several recent winners have used their
creativity to provide activities for their peers, whether this is using
theatre, dance or even circus skills!
Promoting community safety
Stroud Rural Peer Education Project, a winner in 2004, is a group set up
by young people which provides education for young people on a range of
subjects such as substance misuse. The group works alongside various
local and national organisations representing the views of young people
and running consultation projects. The City Angels project in Sheffield
raises awareness of bullying and supports vulnerable young people in and
out of school, Other projects promoting community safety have included
theatre projects and outdoor facilities such as sports areas and skate
parks.
Advancing Racial Harmony
The Philip Lawrence Awards has rewarded many projects for improving
inclusion and tackling racism in communities. The Dreamers project
confronted racial prejudice and the stigma surrounding refugees by
creating a support group and cartoon book; whilst another recent winner,
the Muslim Youth Helpline responds to a wide range of social issues
affecting young Muslims today. Groups have set up magazines like Peckham
Young People’s Magazine or produced pieces of local art, like the EKTA
group who created a large mosaic which now stands in their local
shopping centre.
Demonstrating Good Citizenship
Safe from Birmingham produced a magazine which not only allowed young
people to learn new skills but also gave them the opportunity to express
their opinions about the services available to young people. Other
initiatives include organising youth music festivals, setting up a
centre for young musicians, workshop rooms and chill out spaces.
Supporting Projects through Schools
Often schools provide the ideal base for young people to establish
outstanding projects, whether this is promoting citizenship, passing on
skills such as managing a project or fundraising or tackling issues
which affect young people such as bullying or low self esteem. The
student led Springhill Community Radio Project, a winner in 2005,
broadcasts music, news, interviews and all kids of information and
advice over school lunch times to tackle anti-social issues.
Grab A Grand!
Winning groups will receive cash awards of £1,000 to invest in
sustaining or developing the award-winning activity. They also receive a
specially designed memento and certificate plus the right to use The
Philip Lawrence Awards emblem.
Nominations are open now, check out
www.philiplawrenceawards.org.uk for
more info.
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