Kirkby Teenager Wins Outstanding Achievement Award

3rd November 2011

A teenager from Kirkby with Asperger’s Syndrome and diabetes who champions other disabled young people has been named the winner of the first Nottinghamshire Outstanding Achievement 4Uth Awards.

Ashfield’s Laura Hickman (19) was presented with her award by Nottinghamshire County Council leader and councillor Kay Cutts at a ceremony at County Hall in Nottingham on Friday  when she headed off competition from six other finalists.

Laura regularly attends Mansfield Youth Link, a youth service for disabled people run by the County Council and has represented the views of other young disabled people at Nottinghamshire Pioneers Youth Forum, which helps to improve services and opportunities for disabled young people, and also at the management committee and advisory board for the £6.5m newly-revamped Mansfield Folkhouse Young People’s Centre.

In addtion, Laura also finds time to volunteer two days a week at Disability Nottinghamshire, based in Mansfield.

As well as the award, Laura also received £250 in vouchers of her choice.

Councillor Cutts said: “Congratulations to Laura. She’s a very special young person and has turned all of life’s disadvantages into advantages and that’s really an example to anyone. I hope winning the award gives her all the impetus she needs to go forward in life.”

The awards are a Nottinghamshire County Council initiative which aim to celebrate the achievements of young people across the county and are designed to recognise those who are unsung heroes, have triumphed in the face of adversity or surpassed all expectation in a particular sport or activity.

Laura’s was a joint nomination from two separate ‘fans’ - her mum Tracey Hickman and County Council youth worker Andrea Spink who’s known Laura just over two years.

The other finalists who picked up their district winner awards from their nominees on Friday night were:

• Toni Bingham (20) from New Ollerton (Newark & Sherwood)
• Ryan Pemberton (18) from Daybrook, Nottingham (Gedling)
• Becky Howie (17) from Ruddington (Rushcliffe)
• Jessie Carter Kay (21) from Bramcote (Broxtowe)
• Megan Parkin (15) from Worksop (Bassetlaw)
• Josh Renshaw (18) from Mansfield Woodhouse (Mansfield).

The County Council received a total of 57 nominations across Nottinghamshire.

Watch out for an exclusive interview with Laura in the next edition of the IRIS Magazine.