We are delighted to announce that Danny from Year 11 at St Gregory’s has been selected as the winning candidate for the South East District of the Lions International Young Ambassador Award for his project to help reverse the decline in our local hedgehog population.

 

The Lions Young Ambassador of the 21st Century Award is a competition which recognises young people for their community service, leadership, and speaking skills. Open to young people between the ages of 15 and 19, successful candidates progress through a series of levels - club, zone, region and district - culminating in a national final in February along with a further opportunity to participate in the European final later next year.

 

Sponsored by Southborough & District Lions Club, Danny was able to compete for the award - and also the chance to win a £500 bursary at district level - by submitting a community service project on a theme he felt passionate about. Choosing to build upon his previous environmental campaigning and successful litter picking schemes, Danny decided to outline a plan which would help protect hedgehogs - currently a red-listed, endangered species.

 

Receiving a letter of support from St Gregory’s, Danny submitted his competition proposal to the Lions Young Ambassador Award explaining the measures he would use to encourage hedgehog communities to thrive across our school grounds. The comprehensive plan explained how he would use the winning bursary to protect and encourage his spikey friends, including purchasing hedgehog homes that would be installed on the school site to provide good quality habitats for nesting and foraging.

 

Attending the district final in Surrey on Sunday 1 December, Danny completed a three-minute speech about his project in front of a panel of judges. He also successfully answered questions about his plan, how he would raise awareness, and how he would involve others in the scheme so that it could expand and grow.

 

Commenting after the event, Christine Forbes from Southborough Lions stated, “Danny was brilliant during his presentation at the district final in Reigate and I feel incredibly privileged that Southborough Lions Clubs has the honour of sponsoring him for the Lions Young Ambassador Award. We are absolutely delighted that he has now progressed through to the national final taking place in February”.

 

Responding to the exciting news that Danny had secured the Lions Young Ambassador Award for the South East, Mr Wilson also commented, “We are thrilled with Danny’s success and this remarkable achievement. We are very proud of Danny’s dedication to improving his local environment and hopefully, by working together, we can now realise Danny’s vision to encourage a thriving hedgehog population here at St Gregory’s.”