People in Leicester and Leicestershire are being urged to vote for inspiring young people as part of this year's Lord-Lieutenant's Award.

Each year, the Lord-Lieutenant celebrates the achievements of young people across the city and county.

The award scheme is open to all 13 to 19 year olds. Individuals can be nominated by other young people, their school, parent or carer, as well as any other agency or individual.
This year's categories celebrate the very best examples of effort and achievement.

People can nominate for: Young Braveheart, Young Volunteer, Young Sportsperson and Young Artist.

For 2017, a special category will commemorate the centenary of the First World War.

The award will be given to someone who investigates and presents a piece of creative research using any method including video, podcast, blog, or report. The project must be inspired by the story of the 5th Northern General Hospital – now the Fielding Johnson Building at the University of Leicester.

Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Lady Gretton, said: "I am delighted to open the nominations for the 2017 awards. Having led the awards for more than a decade now, I look forward each year to hearing about the remarkable efforts of our young people and their outstanding endeavours.

"As ever, the award categories highlight bravery, creativity, strength of spirit and selflessness – which can inspire us all in Leicester and Leicestershire.

"I am particularly keen to see the creative projects which young people are being invited to undertake. I hope time-travelling investigators will enjoy the challenge of revisiting our war time heritage."

The finalists and their parents will be invited to a special 'red carpet' awards evening and dinner held in April next year and hosted by the Lord-Lieutenant.

Jess O'Brien, was Young Artist (*The Joe Humphries Memorial Award) last year and was named Young Person of the Year: "Last year's ceremony was a great experience and I was so pleased that my film was highlighted amongst so many other achievements."

The closing date for this year's nominations for braveheart, volunteer, sportsperson and artist is 31 January 2017. Entries for the special project: Young Investigator of the Year are welcome until 17 February 2017.

To find out more about the awards or to nominate a young person go online at: www.leicestershire.gov.uk/llawards

Young Artist of the Year (*The Joe Humphries Memorial Award)

Once again the awards scheme will include the young artist of the year award ( The Joe Humphries Memorial Award) to be given to a young person who has demonstrated real skill, innovation, and expression in:

• Visual arts
• Expressive arts
• Literature
• Music

With last year's overall winner being the artist of the year, the talented film director, actor and producer Jess O' Brien – 15 years old, from Market Harborough, the awards provide a fantastic showcase to raise the profile of the arts and celebrate the artistic talents of young people from both the city and county who are fittingly recognised by Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Jennifer, Lady Gretton.