A HAMPSHIRE member of the Youth Parliament is celebrating after receiving a prestigious award from the British Youth Council.

Sam Longmore, 16, MYP for New Forest and Test Valley, achieved a Youth Voice Award for the work he has carried out since taking office in March.

The award recognises the hard work carried out by young Parliament representatives in their local communities.

In order to qualify Sam had to undertake a minimum of ten hours of relevant activities and complete a log book detailing his work and achievements.

One of Sam’s key achievements to date is the enlistment of The Mountbatten School, Romsey, in Curriculum for Life, the first academy school in Hampshire to sign up to the initiative.

In addition he has been involved in promoting the Street Sense road safety campaign in schools, has worked with community development facilitators to support youth projects and is liaising with Andover Town Council on the development of a local youth council.

Councillor Peter Edgar, executive member for education, said: “I am always impressed by the work delivered by Hampshire’s Young MPs.

“It is essential that young people have a voice in Parliament in order to share the views of their peers and initiate positive local change for young people.”