A TEENAGER who is a member of the Welsh Youth Parliament is up for a Positive Role Model award.

Jonathon Dawes, head coach at Rhyl tennis club, has been nominated for the award at the National Diversity Awards 2020.

The 17-year-old, who received a British Citizen Youth Award, will attend the prestigious black tie event - which highlight role models, community organisations and the best of British diversity - in September.

Jonathon, a Sport Wales Platinum Ambassador and a community volunteer, said: "I am absolutely honoured to be nominated for such a prestigious award celebrating truly inspirational people up and down the country.

"I was elected as the first Member of Welsh Youth Parliament for the Vale of Clwyd with two main driving factors: Being dedicated to social mobility and empowering young people. Since my election, I always strived to make positive changes for my constituents locally and nationally.

"I’m always dedicated to championing my constituency and the issues of young people, representing them at the highest level. I have achieved this by speaking in the Senedd Chamber, on ITV Sharp End and BBC News, highlighting education, mental health, the environment, and other important issues to young people.

Rhyl Journal:

Jonathon Dawes has been nominated for the 2020 Positve Role Model Award

"I have become an ambassador for a variety of key causes to act as a role model for young people across the country.

"One of these being an NHS Just Be Smoke Free Ambassador.

"I have spoken at national conferences as well as visiting local schools on the impacts of smoking on young people."

Talking about his achievements on the tennis court, Jonathon added: "Volunteering in tennis since the age of 11, I have dedicated thousands of hours on court to breaking down participation barriers to open up tennis to everyone, making it a more inclusive sport. I have done this through coaching, tournaments and a variety of other tennis activities.

"My key achievements include delivering tennis to more than 1,000 young people in a week in a deprived area. This has allowed many the opportunity to pick up a racket for the first time.

"Inclusion in tennis is very important to me. I have taught wheelchair and learning disabilities tennis at schools, clubs, and centres.

"I have run a variety of community initiatives including National Play Day.

"As a volunteer, I have run and organised a total of seven tennis festivals and six team challenges, opening up playing opportunities for over 300 people."

Jonathon is also a Covid-19 volunteer and delivers food to the elderly and vulnerable people who aren’t able to get out.

ITV News will be working in association with The National Diversity Awards to highlight role models and community organisations on regional and national news channels.

Rachel Corp, acting editor, ITV News, said: "We are pleased that ITV News will once again be supporting the National Diversity Awards.

"ITV News remains committed to telling the stories of those, who through their work and dedication to helping others have made a difference; enhancing equality, diversity and inclusion in our society."

To learn more about Jonathon and to vote, visit nationaldiversityawards.co.uk/nominate/29689