A young volunteer who organises youth projects in Burnham-On-Sea has this week been handed a top award during a presentation celebrating the spirit of the Olympics.
Jonathan Smith, 21, was crowned ‘shine a light volunteering champion’ at a presentation in Crewkerne to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Olympic torch arriving in Somerset.
Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership (SASP) hosted the event, which saw 80 children release balloons to mark Jonathan’s volunteering achievements.
After attending Burnham’s Three Streets Community Games Party last summer, Jonathan contacted SASP to ask if he could organise an event for his BAY Centre group with learning difficulties.
Jonathan – who overcame cancer at the age of 10 – has organised two Community Games and is organising a Youth Festival weekend in Burnham.
The awards are organised by the Community Games legacy programme, funded by the Social Action Fund and delivered by the County Sports Partnership Network (CSPN) and the YMCA.
Jonathan was accompanied at this week’s awards by town councillors Ken Smout and Pauline Pollard. Ken said afterwards: “While many youngsters talk about grand ideas but don’t them forward, Jonathan is a ‘do-er’ and and a real credit to our youth community in Burnham and is very deserving of the award.”
Andy Pulleyn, outgoing Manager at Burnham’s Princess Theatre, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Jonathan has made an excellent contribution to the Princess Theatre and Arts Centre through his volunteering. He was instrumental in setting up BOSH Youth Theatre, a group that enables young people to experience and perform drama, and running the Burnham’s Got Talent competition last December.”
