THE nominations are in and now the countdown begins - to the second Youth Achievement Awards. A total of 31 young people aged 11-18 were nominated for the award, run by Fenland District Council in conjunction with the Cambs Times and the Wisbech Standard.

THE nominations are in and now the countdown begins - to the second Youth Achievement Awards.

A total of 31 young people aged 11-18 were nominated for the award, run by Fenland District Council in conjunction with the Cambs Times and the Wisbech Standard.

This year's entries have been split into two categories - personal achievement and community contribution. Winners will be chosen for each of these categories.

An overall winner and a highly commended young person will then be crowned. However, they may not be the category winners.

The winners were picked by Fenland Youth District Council this week, and will be announced at a ceremony at Fenland Hall, March, on February 24.

Because of the high standard of entries, all nominees who do not win an award will be carried forward to our 'The Kids Are Alright' campaign, for the chance to win the monthly �50 worth of shopping vouchers.

Here's a look at all 31 people who were nominated.

A TEAM of six youngsters from Guyhirn have been nominated for raising speeding awareness in their village. They are:

- BETHANY FREEMAN, aged 14,

- LAURA WHITROD, aged 13,

- JORDAN MILNTHORPE, aged 13,

- STEPHANIE JONES, aged 13,

- EMMA GOODE, aged 10, and

- REBECCA FREEMAN, 10.

They teamed up to make a DVD to highlight the issue. Their campaign was highlighted by the Wisbech Standard in November.

They were all nominated by Alice Goose, who made said: "Laura and Stephanie feel very strongly about the issue and hope to make a change."

"Bethany and Jordan have taken a lead on this project and have shown great initiative."

YOUNG sporting stars - potentially names to look out for at the 2012 Olympics - have been nominated by either their club or their school.

March Amateur Boxing Club nominated 13-year-old CHARLIE STEVENS, from Upwell, who won the Golden Gloves in just his sixth bout. He has also won two England vests.

Boxing club coach Bernie Wing said: "His dedication towards training made it easy to coach him. If he goes through life with this dedication he will be a winner."

Meanwhile, the Sir Harry Smith Community College in Whittlesey nominated three students for their success:

- JORDAN BURGESS, 15, of Coates, who came fourth in the national judo championships and is one of the youngest people in the country to reach the highest junior grade.

"He has also trained with the Great Britain judo squad for the Olympics and all of this on top of a promising county rugby career," said N Welsh, who nominated him.

- Sixteen-year-old GRANT BROWN, from Whittlesey, has been kickboxing for four years and came fourth in a recent international championship in Iceland. He also goes to Manchester this month to qualify for the world championship.

Trevor Pike, who nominated him, said: "He has fought for England and has over 20 trophies. He will take his black belt in June."

- JONATHAN HASTINGS has just been accepted for a BMX Olympic development team ready for the 2012 Games.

Jonathan, 15, from Whittlesey, has been competing in the sport for a number of years and recently reached the quarter finals of the European championship.

He was also nominated by Mr Pike.

TEN nominations were made by staff at Centre4, the youth group based at the Queen Mary Centre in Wisbech. They are:

- RYAN TURTON, 17, of Wisbech, a voluntary youth worker who "has progressed hugely in the last six months".

- BEN CUNNINGTON, 16, of Parson Drove, a voluntary senior member of youth clubs for more than a year, who has "gained responsibility, new skills and has been reliable and trustworthy".

- JORDAN HANCOCK, 13, of Wisbech, who has become a senior member of the club and "achieved a lot this year".

- LEANNE TOMPKINS, 14, of Murrow, a volunteer at Murrow Youth Club, who is "very helpful and supports the younger ones. She also uses her initiative and does jobs without being asked".

- NICOLA COATES, 15, of Murrow, who leads activities and runs the tuck shop at Murrow Youth Club, as well as supporting younger club members.

- MATTHEW MARTIN, 16, of Guyhirn, who volunteers at Parson Drove Youth Club. Alice said: "He leads sports activities and runs the tuck shop. Matt has also completed the entry level youth work course."

- LAUREN WYMER, 15, of Leverington, who is "very willing, very friendly and very committed" to volunteering at Centre4.

- LAUREN FROST, 14, of Wisbech, a senior member at Centre4, who has "helped both staff and youth club members in many ways. She has taken on responsibility and gained confidence".

- KELSEY HANCOCK, 14, of Wisbech, who is described as a "very active member" of Centre4. Dan Keen said: "She has been involved in many projects and has achieved a great deal."

- JAKE BURBRIDGE, 16, of Wisbech, a youth volunteer worker. Dan said: "His involvement and commitment to the role is admirable. Also, he began his youth work training, and has gained a Duke of Edinburgh Award for his volunteering."

FIVE youth workers at Young People March have been nominated by the centre manager, Sarah Brown:

- SHANNEN CAMPBELL, 15, a volunteer at YPM and a member of Fenzone Youth Council, was described as "a valuable member of our volunteer staff who, without, we would struggle to run".

- CHARLIE-JEAN MANDERS, 16, a YPM volunteer and chairman of Fenzone, was described by Sarah as "a one-off". She has been involved in numerous events and schemes.

Sarah also said: "This young person is an amazing inspiration to other young people and deserves an award like this."

- GARETH USHER, 15, a YPM volunteer and Fenzone member, helps with the running of weekly clubs.

"He is a valuable member of our volunteer staff," Sarah said. "Without, we would struggle to run."

- LAUREN GOODE, 15, is a YPM volunteer and helps run weekly clubs. She was also described as a valuable member of the volunteer staff.

"Lauren's talent is definitely face painting and was a great help on our family fun days," Sarah added.

- ADAM STOCKBRIDGE, 12, is the youngest volunteer at YPM. He is also a Fenzone member.

Sarah said that Adam is "a valuable member of our volunteer staff. Without, we would struggle to run."

CROMWELL Community College, in Chatteris, nominated two students for outstanding contribution to student welfare at the school.

MATTHEW HALMSHAW, 13, of Chatteris, and HOLLY RAY, 13, of Manea, were both nominated by pupil support manager Viv Merryweather.

"They have promoted the work of the anti-bullying council throughout the school," Mrs Merryweather said. "They work well as a team so I would like to nominate them both for outstanding achievement in enabling and supporting student welfare."

The duo's achievements include producing a slideshow on the school's home page, running anti-bullying sessions for Year 7 students, creating an anti-bullying charter for the school and produced badges for the school's anti-bullying council.

HOURS after his uncle died from a rare form of cancer, 15-year-old KYLE BUSHELL completed a 40-mile cycle ride with nine of his school friends to raise money for cancer research.

The Wisbech youngster organised the cycle ride from Marshland High School, in West Walton, to Hunstanton in memory of his grandmother Betty Bushell who died from breast cancer.

Their trip was organised as part of Marshland High's pink day, which raised money for Breast Cancer Relief.

Kyle was nominated by his mum Lisa Scriven, who said: "Kyle's auntie lost her partner, John Murphy, the night before. He had amyloiditis and Kyle always called him his uncle.

"The night before he was at the hospital visiting John, but the morning after he didn't know that John died. I told him half-way through the bike ride, but he kept going and completed it."

All 10 teenagers dressed in pink for the occasion and one of them learned to ride a bike to take part.

PROUD mum Julie Hutton nominated her 14-year-old son OLIVER HUTTON for his courage while coping with spina bifida - a condition which has resulted in many operations and pain.

But when the Leverington started suffering from bullying at school, Julie started home teaching her son.

"Throughout his life he's shown determination and strength beyond his years," Julie said.

Spina bifida is a condition which sees one or more of the 33 bones in the human vertebrae not form properly during pregnancy, leaving part of the spinal cord unprotected. It causes mobility difficulties and, in extreme cases, causes paralysis below the affected part of the spine.

TWO 17-year-olds have been nominated for their volunteering efforts in sport - one by a disability sports group and one by a golf centre.

ADAM ROOKS, from Walpole St Peter, was nominated by Fendis (Fenland Disability Sports Forum) and BRETT HOLLOWAY, from Wimblington, has been nominated by the village's Priory Golf Centre.

Fendis commended Adam's help at new weekly multisport sessions for young people with disabilities in Wisbech. Annette Fontaine, of Fendis, said: "In doing this he has personally taken on training, engaged with the young people taking part, shown great maturity and enthusiasm and has been a positive role model."

Brett has learned about golf so he can help deliver coaching sessions at the Priory Disability Golf Academy, held on Wednesdays, for adults with learning disabilities.

Jonathan Rose, who nominated Brett, said: "This helped the academy accept more members and increase its awareness.