A teenager has been awarded a Certificate of Honour for his volunteer work, including his work in setting up a charity.

Montgomery Lord received the commendation for his British Citizen Youth Award at a ceremony at the Palace of Westminster alongside another 24 individuals from up and down the country.

The 16-year-old, from Preston has conducted volunteer work in the community and was ‘instrumental’ in setting up a mental health charity Young Active Minds for which he has acted as an ambassador sharing memory techniques with children and young people to promote new, fun and effective learning. 

Montgomery, known as Monty, is currently studying Law, Politics, Psychology and Religious Studies for his A-Levels at Runshaw College.

Principal at Runshaw College, Clare Russell said: "We are delighted to hear of Monty's impressive achievements.

“Runshaw students have high expectations and achieve exceptional results within a diverse, inclusive and respectful college community that allows all students to thrive.

“We are sure that Monty will achieve even greater success at college and will then progress to a top-quality destination."

At the age of 14, Monty conducted his first research paper into the effects of technology on a person’s internal clock.

His second piece of research was into the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and isolation and its effects on the mental health and wellbeing of children, young people and their families and friends.

His father, Fabian Lord commented, “Monty, like all young people of their generation, is so resourceful at seeking out opportunities to help others in the community.

“I’m amazed at what they are able to achieve at such a young age.”

Dame Mary Perkins said: “The British Citizen Youth Award recipients are very special individuals.

“These young people all go above and beyond for others with selfless acts of kindness and community spirit with no thought or expectation of praise or reward.

“These awards are a great opportunity to shine a light on what they do and give them the recognition they so thoroughly deserve.

“They are the nation's true unsung heroes and the rising stars of the future.”

Each Medal of Honour bears the words ‘For the Good of the Country’ and are presented to only a small number of exceptional young individuals annually.

Now in its fifth year, the British Citizen Youth Award is widely viewed as the nation’s way of recognising extraordinary, everyday young people for exceptional endeavour and are truly representative of today’s multicultural Britain.