It's great to win – I would encourage all to nominate

A former community champion has spoken about the importance of nominating ahead of this year's awards.

Tyrone Hayes won the Anti-Bullying Champion Award last year while he was attending Henderson Avenue Primary School.

The 12-year-old, from Scunthorpe, was nominated when he was only 11 years old by his teacher Lesley Douglas.

He now attends Invenio Academy in Scunthorpe.

Tyrone, along with five other students, created a film on bullying, where the youngster had to act out the role of a bully.

He said: "It was a weird experience playing the bully.

"My mum encouraged me and said it would change somebody's life.

"I wanted to highlight the importance of it.

"It was really great to win the award and I would encourage people to nominate."

Karen Pettitt, a pastoral officer at Invenio, said the school recognised the importance of fighting bullying.

She said: "We have peer mentors here at Invenio who the students can go to for support.

"The peer mentors then report this to us or the teachers.

"Bullying does happen but we try to stamp it out."

The Community Champion Awards scheme is being run by North Lincolnshire Council, in association with the Scunthorpe Telegraph.

The aim is to reward individuals who deserve recognition for the time they dedicate to volunteering, overcoming barriers or excelling in sport or the arts.

Nominations are now open, with 26 awards to be presented across four categories.

The awards are split into sections – volunteer, achievement, community and inspiration.

People are encouraged to nominate anybody they feel is worthy of a community champion award.

Some of the categories include:

Young Male Volunteer

Anti-Bullying Champion

Personal Courage

Young Female Sports Achiever

Young Arts Heritage Achiever

Adults Arts Heritage Achiever

Outstanding Achievement (Young)

Outstanding Contribution to a Learning Community

Outstanding Contribution to a Stronger Community

Community Project of the Year

Young Carer of the Year

Governor of the Year

Fresh Start 50+

Lifetime Achievement Male

The awards will be presented in a ceremony at the Baths Hall on Doncaster Road, Scunthorpe, on Thursday, November 29.

Nominations can now be made online at www.northlincs.gov.uk/ CommunityChampionAwards2012

Alternatively, call 01724 297270, or e-mail community.recreation@ northlincs.gov.uk or collect a nomination form from the Scunthorpe Telegraph reception.