AN ENVIRONMENTAL group set up in the Wood End area of Coventry is up for a prestigious national award.
Eco - Way To Go, which started up 18 months ago in the New Deals for Community area, is up for the Phillips Lawrence Award.
It celebrates outstanding contributions made by young people in their community and who also challenge negative stereotypes and perceptions.
Eco - Way To Go consists of 14 members aged seven to 18. They meet once a month and tackle environmental issues such as making the area look clean and green and encouraging wildlife.
Roles such as chairman and secretary are undertaken by younger people to provide them with an opportunity to learn new skills, gain confidence and have trust placed on them.
Nicole Heaney, a youth support officer, who started the group, said: “I am really proud of the members and this nomination is completely about them and their hard work.
“It would be so great to win just because of the sheer hard work everyone puts in.
“It’s really helped to build their confidence and would be good if they were recognised for it.”
Some of the activities the young people have taken part in include, four litter picking days where they collected around 100 bags of rubbish and meeting with two government ministers to talk about local issues.
Group member Luke Bates, nine, said: “I like doing the cleaning things because I want to look after the environment. I have lots of fun working with the group, like when we’re litter picking in Henley Green.
“I would like to stay a member for a long time.”
The award ceremony, which takes place on December 8, was set up in 2007 in memory of head teacher Philip Lawrence who was murdered outside his school, in December 1995.
Frances Lawrence, widow of Philip Lawrence and founder of the awards, said: “It is always inspiring for judges to read nominations from across the country which describe how young people are working to improve their communities.
“In remote rural areas and in the midst of large cities they create projects which imaginatively tackle problems of crime, discrimination, and anti-social behaviour.”
Winners of the award, hosted by Sir Trevor McDonald, receive £1,000.
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