Examiner Community Awards: Young Personality

Jun 19 2009 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

TEENAGER Andrew Winterbottom has dedicated years to helping people with disabilities.

The 17-year-old already runs three night courses and organises social events.

And the Kirklees College social care student is planning to continue his kind-spirited approach into adult life.

Andrew, of Oakes, said: I’m really proud that someone would think to nominate me for an award.

“I do what I enjoy doing and so do other people, which is the most important thing.”

Andrew was only 11 when he started his community work. This was after his sister, Emma, now 20, introduced him to the Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

Over the years he has dedicated three nights a week to running classes for disabled people from IT sessions to woodwork.

He also runs a camera course every Friday teaching disabled people to film and edit footage.

Andrew, a former Salendine Nook High School pupil, is also in the process of setting up a Night Line scheme and is funding himself through a climbing course so he can take disabled people climbing.