Young author of two books to receive award
An “exceptional” little girl who lives near Bath has written two books and raised hundreds of pounds for charity.
Aimee Phillips, from Saltford, loves nature and has penned two novels, including her own photos, illustrations and notes from countryside and coastal walks with her family. She wrote her first book during the pandemic in 2021, aged just seven.
She was inspired by weekly claps for the NHS to write and illustrate “The Very Hungry Honey Bee” - her first novel - raising £100 for NHS Charities Together by her eighth birthday. It was published as an e-book and all its proceeds went to the cause.
The theme for Aimee’s second tale sprang from Her Majesty the Queen’s Green Canopy and the life of Sir David Attenborough.
“The Secret Garden” is a children’s book about a young girl’s quest to change the world one garden at a time. It tells how, while out exploring, she discovers a struggling garden and
decides to take care of it. As time passes, the garden spreads throughout the dark, grey city, transforming it into a lush, green world.
The proceeds from Aimee’s e-books
have been shared between Save The Children and NHS Charities Together. To date, she has raised just under 10 times her target for the two charities and her efforts have not gone unnoticed. Aimee will receive the British Citizen Youth Award this month for her kindness, imagination and philanthropy. Now in its eighth year, 25 young people from across the UK are set to receive the award on October 20.
Each young person will be presented at the palace of Westminster with the BCYA Medal of Honour and can use the letters BCYA after their names. Each Medal of Honour bears the words “For the Good of the Country” and is presented to only a few young people annually.
Until now, the BCYA was only awarded to individuals, but this year it has partnered with Specsavers to offer the Dame Mary Perkins British Citizen Youth Award, specifically for groups.
Mike Faulkner, founder of the BCYA, said: “Dame Mary is the valued Patron of the BCYA and is committed to promoting the achievements of young people. The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow and we are humbled that Dame Mary, who is also the founder of Specsavers, has put her name to this prestigious accolade allowing the BCYA to broaden its recognition of young people in society.”
This unique award is only open to groups of young people aged 18 or under.
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2023 medal presentations, you can register online at www. britishcitizenyouthawards.co.uk.