Afzana Choudhury, Humza Khan and Yasmin Sultana, all aged 17 from Luton received the Champion Volunteer Award for their volunteering work at the national Diana Award Ceremony at Canary Wharf in London on 12 March.

Afzana, Humza and Yasmin are part of a group of volunteers that help run projects at the Centre for Youth and Community Development on Leagrave Road, Luton. They have taken lead roles in running the Crescent Summer School Programme and helped to recruit over 250 participants. They have also raised £300 in aid of the Luton and Dunstable Hospital Cardiac Centre Appeal.

Actor Adam Astill who plays Dan Hamilton in BBC One’s Holby City presented the group with the award.

On receiving the Diana Award, Afzana said: “We are so honoured to have been presented with the Diana Award. We are dedicated to giving young people a safe place to take part in activities and somewhere they can go to share their concerns and fears. We are really proud of what we have achieved.”

Abdul Halim, Youth Work Coordinator, who nominated the group for the award said: “The young people are truly exceptional and passionate about the centre. They are truly worthy recipients of the Diana Award.”

Maggie Turner OBE, Chief Executive of the Diana Award, said: “We are immensely proud of our award holders and nothing gives me greater pleasure than to see their achievements highlighted.” 

The Diana Award was established in 1999 in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, as a legacy to her belief in the power of young people to change the world.

75 inspirational young people from across the UK received the Diana Award on Monday for their commitment to helping others and their communities, helping to challenge the negative stereotype that is so often applied to young people.

More information

For more information or to nominate a young person for the Diana Award, visit www.diana-award.org.uk

Nominations close on 18 May and 9 November 2012.

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Adam Astill is running the Brighton Marathon on 15 April in aid of the Diana Award. To sponsor him please visit: www.justgiving.com/teams/DianaAwardMarathon