Inspirational Telford teenagers pick up council awards
Two inspirational teenagers have picked up awards for the work they do in their community.
Elijah Everill and Ellis Snookes were honoured at a special assembly at Burton Borough School in Newport yesterday.
They were presented with Telford Tommy's, Telford & Wrekin Council's answer to the Oscars.
Elijah is an international kickboxer with his eyes set on the Olympics, while Ellis has been heavily involved with the UK Youth Parliament for several years.
The awards were presented by Clive Jones, the council's assistant director of family and cohesion services.
Elijah, 15, regularly represents Great Britain in kickboxing. He won three gold medals at the British championships in February, another three at the Irish Open recently and last year scooped two golds at the European Championships. Elijah, who lives in Muxton, juggles his GCSE work with training every day, mainly at the Lee Matthews Blackbelt Academy in Madeley.
He said: "It was a bit of a surprise. It's really great that the council is recognising the achievements of young people in this way.
"It's hard juggling school and training but I managed to cram it all in.
"I am in Madeley most days but I also go to Birmingham a couple of times a week and to London to meet up with the GB team. I hope that kickboxing will become an Olympic sport and I can compete."
Ellis, 16, has twice stood for election as the representative for Telford and Wrekin in the UK Youth Parliament. During his time in office he has visited the House of Commons, met with MPsand campaigned for better transport for young people.
Now he has stepped aside to concentrate on his GCSEs.
Ellis, from Tibberton, near Newport, said: "It's a great honour to win something like this as recognition from my peers, teachers and the community. I am hoping to carry on working closely with the Young People's Forum and the council."
Ellis canvassed the school for their opinion on what they saw as the priorities for the UK Youth Parliament.
Sarah Alecock, head of Lennon House at Burton Borough, said: "These are two very special young people."
She said Elijah was a "fantastic role model" and Ellis was "an outstanding young man with a glittering career ahead of him."
