A YOUNGSTER from St Helens has been honoured with a prestigious award which recognises the small yet significant ways where young people have positively impacted their community.

Joshua Forster was chosen as one of the 25 "extraordinary young people from across the UK" to be recognised with the British Citizen Youth Award (BCYA) on the 2020 Roll of Honour.

On Wednesday, September 29, Joshua was finally presented with the Certificate of Honour at the Palace of Westminster, where the medallists of the 2020 BCYA where gifted their awards alongside a community Medal of Honour acknowledgement.

St Helens Star: Joshua was presented with The British Citizen Youth Award at the Palace of Westminster on Wednesday, September 29Joshua was presented with The British Citizen Youth Award at the Palace of Westminster on Wednesday, September 29

Dog-obsessed Joshua was put forward for the award after his idea to leave dirty balls for other dog-walkers blossomed into a community wide gesture.

Walking with his aunt and her two dogs, Luna and Rex, during the cold months early last year, Josh suggested that they leave the muddy balls in the park for other people to use. Using his own pocket money, he went immediately out to buy a small box, balls and toys so everyone in the community can share the dog toys.

While a small gesture to some, it has had a big impact and response from the whole community.

In a nation of dog lovers, owners really appreciated the care and consideration the 6-year-old put into this idea for the good of the community; with the dogs always having something to play with and increasing the community spirit for everyone.

St Helens Star: Joshua with his awardJoshua with his award

Starting the box idea in the middle of a cold and miserable January last year, he continues to check on them daily, and has since been given permission from St Helens council to use the black recycling boxes.

This means Joshua has now five dog toy boxes on the go around St Helens in different parks and dog walks.

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. 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.

After a difficult 18 months, the award ceremony finally took place to remember and celebrate the little heroes and their community work all across the country.

St Helens Star: Joshua's dog toy idea has grown to five parks in St Helens and used by a range of dog-walkersJoshua's dog toy idea has grown to five parks in St Helens and used by a range of dog-walkers