We are delighted to celebrate the wonderful achievement of Charles O, who has been awarded the prestigious British Citizen Youth Award (BCyA) Medal of Honour at the Palace of Westminster. This national award recognises young people who have made an exceptional contribution to their communities, and Charles's dedication to helping others is truly inspiring. Despite his young age, Charles has spent more than 150 hours volunteering across Merton, caring for local green spaces, clearing litter, planting trees, supporting community gardening projects and championing causes that make his neighbourhood cleaner, safer and more welcoming for everyone.
Charles's latest success follows another remarkable milestone earlier this year, when he became the youngest-ever recipient of Merton Council's Civic Pride: Special Volunteer Commendation award. Since then, he has continued to give his time and energy to helping others, from supporting humanitarian efforts for Ukraine to advocating for improvements in his local area. Charles's kindness, determination and sense of responsibility show that even the smallest actions can make a real difference, and we are incredibly proud of the positive impact he is making in his community.