Manchester teenager wins 'Urban Hero of the Year' award

A servant-hearted teenager from Harpurhey, Manchester, was named the first ever 'Urban Hero of the Year' at a prestigious awards ceremony at Manchester United's Old Trafford home last Friday.

Anthony Martindale,18, was presented with the Urban Hero of the Year Award by the High Sheriff of Manchester, Mrs Edith Conn, at an event hosted by city youth charity The Message Trust. Earlier in the evening Anthony had also been announced winner of the Volunteer Award.

The Urban Hero Awards celebrated young people impacted by host The Message Trust's work in schools, communities and prisons across Greater Manchester.

The awards aimed to show how young people are playing a vital and positive role in the life of the city at a time when negative stories of youth are dominating the headlines.

Local dignitaries, also including Lord Mayor of Manchester Cllr Mavis Smitherman, and several hundred business people and celebrity guests gathered to honour young achievers from Manchester who have made a difference to their communities across the city. Each award winner has overcome serious obstacles in their lives - drug addiction, tough backgrounds, loss of parents and family - to emerge as heroes to their friends and family.

Anthony Martindale scooped the top award because of his "amazing" attitude towards needy people in his community. Anthony works 'behind-the-scenes' to improve his local community in many different ways. His life started turning around when he came into contact with a volunteer on a Harpurhey-based Eden project and became a Christian. Despite a tough background and involvement with drink and drugs in his earlier years, The Message Trust said Anthony is now a positive role model for younger boys attending a local youth club he helps to run.

Anthony's youth worker and friend Jen Graves comments: "He's always been the one that'll be saying 'I'll be there, I'll help you...' He's a legend."

Other winners of the Urban Hero Awards included a former drug addict and offender now a husband and father in full-time education and a team of young entrepreneurs who have set up a pioneering fairtrade cooperative. Many have stories of how their lives changed when they became Christians.