A YOUNG Solihull carer has been handed a top award for her community work helping others.
Katie Bladon won the Jubilee Sailing Trust Shipshape Award in association with Shirley Lions Club and Carers Trust Solihull.
The award is presented to a young ambassador who demonstrates a particularly strong personal commitment and enthusiasm for their community work.
The 17-year-old from Kingshurst looks after three members of her family, each with different health conditions, and has been actively involved in volunteering from a young age.
She is also a Young Carers Student Ambassador at Solihull College and University Centre, helping to raise awareness of the caring responsibilities of some young people.
Katie entered the Lions Young Ambassadors competition with the hope of winning the £500 bursary prize to start her own book club for young carers.
The Health and Social Care student said: “It means so much to me to have won this award and be recognised as a hard and determined worker who gives their all to community service.
“I spend all my time helping others and would love to make the world a better place.
“To be recognised is just amazing and makes me want to do even more.”
At the Midlands district level of the competition Katie was interviewed by a panel of three independent judges and then gave a three-minute presentation on her community work.
Katie was up against representatives from other Lions Clubs in the Midlands and emerged victorious in the competition.
The book club, now up and running, is to young carers develop their literacy and social skills.
