Young Citizen Awards: Elliot's life turned around

3:41pm Friday 29th February 2008

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FIFTEEN-year-old Elliot Costello from Wilpshire was named runner-up in the awards ceremony after the judges heard that he had turned his life around through helping others.

Elliot was nominated by Patricia Appleton, who revealed that following family difficulties he moved from Blackpool to the outskirts of Blackburn.

As a result he lost his friends and to make matters worse he was bullied at his new school.

Consequently he became withdrawn, suspicious, lacking in respect and in danger of breaking the law.

But he now says that his ambition is to join the police after joining the Blackpool-based Windmill Youth Group.

Through the group he has completed his bronze and silver Duke of Edinburgh Awards and is now going for his gold.

Patricia, a supervisor at Windmill, said he has put in "innumerable hours of hard work" at the Snow Heights Trust Community Centre at Bouth in Cumbria in the last two years.

He has helped in clearing the grounds and preparing it for access by disabled youngsters.

Elliot, who lives in Whalley Road, said: "I was really shocked to win an award.

"I was surprised to even be nominated but it is great to be named as a runner-up."

Dad Neville said: "He has really improved himself with his work at Windmill and has done a lot of good.

"Elliot doesn't feel that he has done anything special but he deserves to be recognised in this way."