A CITY youngster was among those honoured with an award at a celebration of sporting talent across the West Midlands in Birmingham.
Lewis Higgs claimed the Power of Sport award, which aims to recognise an individual whose life has significantly changed and improved through the adoption of a more active lifestyle, at the West Midlands Community Sports Awards last Thursday (December 6).
Organised by the six county sports partnerships across the region – Sports Partnership Herefordshire and Worcestershire, Sport Birmingham, Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, Energize Shropshire Telford and Wrekin, Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Sport and Active Black Country – the awards are an opportunity to celebrate the wealth of talent and contribution across the West Midlands.
Individuals, projects and clubs from across the region were recognised in five award categories: Community Coach of the Year, Community Club of the Year, Aspiring Talent and the Power of Sport Award.
In addition, BBC Midlands also announced their Unsung Hero regional winner as Mike Day who is invited to attend the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards on Sunday (December 16).
As well as Lewis, other local nominees included Danielle Miles-Ranger of Leigh and Bransford Badgers FC in the Community Coach of the Year category, Worcester Mixed Ability Rugby Club in the Community Club of the Year section and Matt Richards in the Aspiring Talent category.
Alice Byrne, lead youth worker at Dines Green who nominated Lewis for the award said: “Lewis has made a positive impact on the lives of others around him through sport and his commitment to making a change is an inspiration to all of the young people of Dines Green. I am overwhelmed with the wonderful news of Lewis winning the award.”
Local cricket legend Basil D’Oliveira was inducted into the West Midlands Hall of Fame. Basil joins previous winners including Sir Stanley Matthews, Dennis Amiss, Gordon Banks, Dave Moorcroft and Richie Woodall.
Stephen Brewster, Chief Executive Officer at the Sports Partnership Herefordshire and Worcestershire said, “The West Midlands Community Sports Awards are designed to recognise the contribution to sport and physical activity across our region.”
“We are delighted to award Lewis the Power of Sport award and recognise the positive change he has made as a direct result of involvement with sport and physical activity. It is a remarkable achievement to have been named on the regional shortlist and all of our nominees can be extremely proud of their achievements.”
Visit www.westmidlandscommunitysportsawards.co.uk for more.