Cobalt teens take award

Six young people from Cobalt Housing’s Youth Forum were highly commended with a Rising Stars Award at the first Citysafe Celebration Awards. The awards took place at St Georges Hall in Liverpool and were organised by the city’s Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP).

These awards recognise and reward those who have helped Liverpool become one of the safest cities in Europe. The Youth Forum were highly commended for organising Teen Takeover, an event for young people that took place at St John Bosco Arts College in October last year.

Over 150 teenagers from Croxteth, Norris Green, Fazakerley and Sparrow Hall took part in Teen Takeover. The event was developed, organised, publicised and managed by Cobalt Housing's Youth Forum and attracted young people aged 13 - 19 years from the Cobalt areas.

Summarising the achievement, the Citysafe Awards state: “Their aim was to promote community cohesion through organising a cross boundary event, consulting on young people's priorities and encouraging their involvement in resolving neighbourhood issues. The event was fun, educational and successfully engaged the 160 young people who attended.”

Chelsea Rutherford, James Welsh, Tom Cain, Jake Flood, Rachel McCardle and Peter Halliday received the award. Jake Flood said: “Teen Takeover has been one of the best things we’ve done and getting this award has made it even better.”

Manila Sood, Cobalt Neighbourhood Regeneration Officer commented: “This is great recognition for the young people involved and it is fantastic to have independent endorsement that the work they are doing is having a valuable and positive effect on the community.”