Main Page - Return to previous page
Title: Volunteer Philip nominated for award
Source: Fenland Citizen, May 5th, 2010
NOTICE: The following material is copyrighted as indicated in the body of text. It has been posted to this web page for archival purposes, and in doing so, no claim of authorship is expressed or implied, nor is a profit being made from the use of the material.
Volunteer Philip nominated for award
Published Date: 05 May 2010
A FENLAND teenager, who set up one club for young people and helps run two more, has been nominated for Cambridgeshire Constabulary Young People of the Year.
Eighteen-year-old Philip Taylor, of Benwick, was nominated for giving up his spare time to set up a games club and help run his local Scouts and Beavers.
As a nominee for YOPEY, Philip is in with a chance of winning the top prize of £1,000 from a prize pot of £3,000 put up by the police and the other sponsors including Spicers, EACS and Dialight.
Philip set up a model war-gaming club in the Benwick Village Hall two years ago which meets fortnightly.
Anyone is invited to the club and it gives somewhere for local youngsters to go and learn how to play such fantasy games as Warhammers and Dungeons and Dragons.
Philip said: "It is a chance for people to come and learn a new game. It is also better than hanging around on the streets as it gives the young people something fun to do in a safe environment.
"As there are also lots of people of different ages that come to the club, we find that it helps the younger ones improve confidence and helps prepare them for the transition from primary to secondary school."
Philip is part of a scouting family. His dad and mum both run troops and through this he is involved in running the local Scouts and Beavers.
He has been a Scout leader at the 1st Benwick Scout Troop for over a year.
He is one of the youngest adult leaders in the county and leads scouts aged between 10-14 years old.
As well as helping to run the scouts he also helps run the Benwick Beavers which is for 6-8 year-olds.
He gives up two evenings a week to help at the Scouts and Beavers, which are based at the Benwick Village Hall. Here, Philip teaches the young Scouts and Beavers special skills and helps run activities for them. He also acts as a mentor for them and if they need someone to talk to he is there for them.
Philip is also instrumental in organising camps and other outdoor activities. He gives up his weekends and school holidays to help at these.
Philip was nominated for YOPEY by fellow leader Rod Glen, who said: "Philip is extremely enthusiastic in his approach to scouting and communicates this to the young people in both sections thus making it enjoyable and fun."
Claire Edwards, the Beaver leader, said: "Philip has a level of patience with the youngsters that would be expected of someone way beyond his years.
His commitment to the scouting groups is fantastic. He is extremely reliable, trustworthy and a pleasure to volunteer alongside."
Philip does all he does because he wants to give something back to the community. He said: "When I was a cub I was given so many great opportunities, so I wanted to help other young people to experience all the fantastic things that I did."
Philip also believes that Beavers and Scouts helps to increase confidence in young people.
"When I was younger and through school I was very shy. Going to cubs and scouts really helped me increase my confidence and helped improve my self-esteem. I feel that I can use these experiences to help young ones who come to scouts that may be in the same position. I can help them overcome being shy and help them gain more confidence."
Philip's dad Larry Taylor said: "Philip's mum and I are very proud of him. Any spare time that he has, he gives up helping others and the community.
"You don't see a lot of positive things said about young people these days but Philip is a great example of a young person who is going out of his way to help others and make a difference. He is an all-rounder, hardworking, caring and enthusiastic and a great role model for other young people."
Philip has always wanted to work with children as a career. He is currently studying biology, maths and further maths at Neale-Wade Community College in March.
He will be starting university in September and wants to become a physics teacher.
This is the fifth annual YOPEY in Cambridgeshire after the movement started in the Hertfordshire in 2005. It has spread so far to 12 English counties and Scotland. Over £100,000 has been won by young people who are positive role models and 'give to others'.
YOPEY founder Tony Gearing said: "Philip is another great example of a young person doing his bit to help other people. He gives up his free time to give youngsters something fun and productive to do, teaching them new skills and giving them somewhere safe to go."
The Cambridgeshire Constabulary Young Person of the Year will win £1000 - £500 for themselves and £500 for a good cause of their choice that works with young people. Second place will win £500, third £250 and there will be a Junior Young Person of the Year winning £250. There will also be several £100 runners-up prizes.
All YOPEY cash prizes are shared with the community.
In Cambs this year YOPEY is sponsored by the county's police, Spicers, Europe's leading wholesaler of office products headquartered in Cambs, Cambridge Building Society, Cambridge University Press, Silicon Fen high-tech businesses CSR and ARM, South Cambridgeshire District Council, and Huntingdon-based companies EACS and Dialight.
The awards ceremony will be in July.
Do you know any inspirational young person or group of young people who deserve to be recognised? The Cambridgeshire Constabulary YOPEY is open to young people aged from 10 to 25, who should live, work or study in Cambs.
Logon to www.yopey.org or send an SAE for an entry form to YOPEY, PO Box 103, Ware, Herts, SG9 0XD. Young people can nominate themselves and entries close on May 16.