Suffolk Police are appealing for more applicants for the force's annual HOPE awards to celebrate young people's selfless work in the community.

The HOPE Awards have been created by Suffolk Police and Suffolk County Council to celebrate the contribution young people make in Suffolk and to formally recognise all the outstanding things they do in the community.

The awards are split into four categories: Diversity, Respect and Kindness, Team Work and Determination, and there is one overall winner for the most impressive entrant.

The HOPE Awards are in their third year and PC Chris Belcher says the purpose of them is to "highlight the good work young people do" in the area.

He said: "We are looking to celebrate the fantastic work young people do in the community and across the county of Suffolk.

"The HOPE Awards allows us to highlight the good work young people do for their communities.

"It is important young people get the recognition they deserve to instil confidence in them to continue working hard and to encourage them to continue making a difference.

"The awards show again that during the pandemic how many of our younger residents stepped forward to give hope to others."

Nominations are welcome for any young person aged between 11 and 18 years-old who has gone above and beyond and continued to demonstrate resilience.

Last year, Bungay Sixth Form student Daniel Jillings, who was then in year 11, won the Diversity award and was also the overall winner.

Mr Jillings is profoundly deaf and has been an advocate for sign language to be taught in schools across the UK, having led a campaign and presentation outside the Houses of Parliament.

The student also pushed hard for sign language to be added to the GCSE curriculum as an optional subject for students to study, for the overall benefit of deaf people in society.

Bungay High School described him as an "inspiration to us all" and a "valuable member of the school".

Nominations are now open until Friday, February 24, 2023. 

Should you have any questions, or need support in completing the application please email hannah.creasey@suffolk.police.uk or Lisa.yorke@suffolk.police.uk