Ceri Davies, from Kingswinford, was presented with the Diana
Award in 2005, a memorial award for young people set by a
Government committee chaired by Gordon Brown.
Now the 19-year-old is set to go to London on Thursday
(January 15, 2009) to meet Mr Brown at an event to celebrate
positive role models. Other Diana Award winners will also be
attending the event to tell the Prime Minister what they have
planned for the next year.
Ceri was nominated for the Diana Award when she was 15 for
overcoming her physical disabilities and achieving great things as
a member of Dudley Youth Council. Ceri, who has spina bifida and
cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, subsequently became a Diana
Award Ambassador and was a member of The Diana Youth Advisory
Board. She is also the regional hub co-ordinator for the West
Midlands.
Ceri is a first year undergraduate at the University and is
studying for a joint honours BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Studies
and Sociology. She is now a Home Student Officer at the University,
and her community work includes youth counselling and Base 25 – a
project for 16 to 25 year olds to help teenagers and young people
with any problems they face.
She said: “It is absolutely amazing to be going to meet the
Prime Minister. I am really happy and excited about representing
the Award. We will be telling Gordon Brown what we have planned for
the awards for the next year and about the theme of positive role
models.
“I was chosen to go because I do voluntary work for the award
and have been actively involved in the award ever since I won. I
want to be an inspiration to young people, and I want to help as
many people as I can. “
The Diana Award was founded in 1999 by a Government committee
chaired by Gordon Brown and gives recognition to young people aged
between 12 and 18, who both make outstanding and selfless
contributions to their communities, and also demonstrate the
qualities associated with Diana Princess of Wales - compassion and
a commitment to improving the lives of others.
