Bulwell school girl wins prize thanks to her volunteering in the community

Iris Wallace, 11, has become involved in lots of inspirational local volunteering since moving to the area just over a year ago with her family.

Going into 2021 Iris continues to work several hours a week at the Bulwell Forest Garden charity, undertaking tasks such as litter picking, making bird feeders and growing fruit and vegetables in all weather conditions to help the community garden project.

Iris also gives up free time to volunteer at Bulwell Food Bank, helping with jobs such as putting together vital food parcels.

She even cooked no less than 250 hot meals with her mums Kelly and Shelly over a two-week period recently, which were then handed out to families in need.

The Bulwell Academy pupil’s outstanding commitment to her local community and helping those who are vulnerable and in need within it are what led to a unanimous selection by The Nottingham’s judges in the Innovative Young People ten-13 age category and the award of a £250 tech voucher.

Iris said: “I was surprised but very happy to hear I had become one of The Nottingham’s Innovative Young People of 2020.

“It is nice to be recognised in this way but the main reason I continue to do as much volunteering as I can in my spare time is to help people who most need it in the community where I live.”

In late 2020 Bulwell Forest Garden community gardener and food bank trustee Adele Brooksbank, saw the building society’s award scheme advertised and decided to nominate Iris.

She was joined by 19 other people from in and around the Bulwell area who did exactly the same.

An extract of Adele’s nomination said : “Iris has become a young ambassador for the garden. Without her input, the garden wouldn't have come up with ways to further our project.

“I nominated her not just because Iris has helped us as a project, but because she has overcome her own shyness and has further strengthened her own ability to learn and continues to look for new ways of learning and gathering information.

"If all this wasn't enough, she has begun to help out at our local food bank at which I'm a trustee.

"Iris is a remarkable young lady who deserves this recognition for all the work she has so far achieved and continues to achieve.”​​​​​​

Anne Leivers, The Nottingham’s head of people and development, said: “Early on in 2020 we launched our Career Academy to help drive the aspirations of young people through hints and tips as to how careers can be kick-started.

“However with the coronavirus pandemic causing serious challenges for all, not least young people who faced unprecedented hurdles in their education or career aspirations, we built on that by introducing the Innovative Young People awards.

“We received many inspirational nominations which made some very difficult decisions for the judging panel, but we are satisfied that the winners are thoroughly deserving of their awards and we hope the prizes can play a role in helping them fulfil their ambitions.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

Nancy Fielder, editor