Young heroes take the spotlight as Cotswold District Council celebrates unsung community champions

Joshua Smith was celebrated at a special ceremony last night, where the council announced the winners of its inaugural Young Unsung Hero Awards. The awards honour individuals whose quiet, selfless contributions have made a meaningful and lasting impact on their communities. 

Joshua, who is about to start Year 5 at North Cerney Primary School, said he was inspired to begin litter picking after noticing the amount of rubbish scattered around his neighbourhood. 

The environmentally-conscious youngster said he was particularly worried about the amount of plastic he found on the ground, and the damage it could do to wild animals which might eat or get entangled in it. He said he went out at least once a week with a grabber to try and clear the rubbish, and urged others to throw their litter in bins rather than on the ground.  

Joining Joshua as an award winner was 20-year-old Olivia Ware, a young volunteer who supports youth mental health across the North Cotswolds through her work with the charity Headspace. Olivia commits her time to mentoring vulnerable young people and is described by peers as a “quiet force for good”. 

Olivia said she had always had a passion for supporting people with emotional challenges, and was hoping her experience at Headspace would help her progress into a career in mental health.  

Speaking about her voluntary work, Olivia said: “I see this as a place we can provide a safe space for young people so if they feel they can’t speak about their feelings in their home environment or they don’t get the support from school, it’s a place for them to come away and be themselves”.  

Olivia, said she applied for the role because it matched who she was as a person. “It’s quite a rewarding job but it can also be really challenging,” she said. And asked how she felt about being nominated for the award, she said she was “very grateful” and hadn’t been expecting it at all.  

The final Young Unsung Hero to be awarded was 18-year-old Cadet Warrant Officer William Quin Thomas-Leah from Cirencester. Despite facing communication challenges linked to his autism diagnosis, William has achieved an exceptional record in the Royal Air Force Air Cadets.  

This includes earning Gold Duke of Edinburgh, ILM Level 3, and BTEC qualifications while mentoring younger cadets, raising funds, and volunteering in a dementia care home.  Will expressed his gratitude for this recognition and said: “I volunteer because I believe strongly in giving back to my community, and helping others. Volunteering is such an important part of life, we can do so much for others around us to make the world a better place." 

In the regular Unsung Heroes Awards, Eric Partington from Ampney St Mary, was recognised for his long-standing dedication to village life; Katharine Isles of South Cerney, who has been involved in organising the beloved village Duck Race for over 30 years; and Gloucestershire-based Linda Carter, was also awarded, having been a committed mental health and disability support volunteer for four decades who has fostered over 40 children and raised thousands for hospice care. 

Chair of the Council, Cllr Mark Harris, praised all the winners, and said: “This award is about recognising those who go the extra mile - not for praise, but because it’s who they are. Our young heroes, in particular, are incredibly inspiring. They show that age is no barrier to making a meaningful difference, and we’re proud to celebrate them.” 

You can find out more about our Unsung Heroes Awards here.