Urban Heroes

Role models for today

A former tearaway teenager from Harpurhey, Manchester was named the first ever ‘Urban Hero of the Year’ at a prestigious awards ceremony at Manchester United’s Old Trafford home.

     18-year-old Anthony Martindale was presented with the Urban Hero of the Year Award by the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester. The event was hosted by city youth charity The Message Trust, which has been working across Greater Manchester for 15 years to improve the lives of young people.

Driven by Christian values, The Message Trust helps young people from all sorts of backgrounds, often including those who are hardest to reach. Last year, approximately 100,000 young people came into contact with one of The Message’s projects on the streets, in the community, in schools and in prisons.

A distinguished audience was present on the night to honour the young achievers who have made a difference to their communities. Each award winner had overcome serious obstacles in their lives – drug addiction, tough backgrounds, loss of parents and family – to emerge as heroes to their friends and family.The Awards also honoured the dedication of youth workers who work with them.

Andy Hawthorne, chief executive and founder of the Trust, said: ‘Though the charity has been working across the area for a long time now, the awards are new. ‘And at a time when young people are getting such a bad press, and being regularly portrayed in a negative light, the scheme shows that there are, in fact, many success stories and that many young people are playing a vital and positive role in society.’ He said of Anthony: ‘He is a fantastic role model for others and is, basically, what we’re all about. His awards are thoroughly deserved.’

Anthony scooped the top award because of his amazing attitude towards needy people in his community. Anthony works ‘behind-the-scenes’ to improve his local community in many different ways. Anthony’s life started turning around when he came into contact with a volunteer on a Harpurhey-based Eden project and became a Christian. Despite a tough background and involvement with drink and drugs in his earlier years, Anthony is now a positive role model for younger boys attending a local youth club he helps to run. Anthony’s youth worker and friend Jen Graves comments: ‘He’s always been the one that’ll be saying “I’ll be there, I’ll help you” He’s a legend.’

Anthony, who is now at college studying joinery and carpentry, said: ‘My story is not unlike that of many others, really. I got involved with the wrong crowd at school, and got into booze and drugs. I was only 15 or 16 at the time, but it took over my life.

‘I always seemed to be in trouble, which caused bother at home and at school. I didn’t seem able to do anything about it, until I met a volunteer from the Message Trust, who got me interested in what the charity is trying to do. ‘I was a bit doubtful about it all at first, because the Trust is based on Christian values, and to someone like me at the time, that made me a bit suspicious. ‘I started going to church, however, and a few months later, I was baptized a Christian, and now my life has been turned completely around. ‘I don’t smoke, drink or take drugs, I’m studying hard so I can get a decent job, and I’m doing all sorts of volunteer work for the Trust which makes me feel good about myself.’

During the past year Anthony has been involved in a home-improvement project with the Trust, developed a garden for a sick neighbour, and helped with the charity’s Eden Project - long-term schemes to help youngsters on some of the area’s most disadvantaged housing estates.

He said: ‘My mum admits she was shocked, but then delighted at the change in me, and my dad at one point became really emotional. They say I’m a new person.’ Other winners included a former drug addict and offender now a husband and father in full-time education and a team of young entrepreneurs who have set up a pioneering Fairtrade cooperative. Many have stories of how their lives changed when they became Christians.

A special Champions award went to a husband-and-wife team, who were so impressed by the work the charity was doing in Manchester, they moved from their home in the south to set up house in the city. GP Dr John Patterson, 37, and his wife Sam, 34, are an integral part of the Message’s Eden Project team and are involved in numerous youth work projects. Andy Hawthorne said: ‘John has managed to balance his working hours as a doctor so that he can put in as much time as possible carrying out youth work. ‘We wanted to publicly recognise what these two have done for the Trust, and for the people within the community where they are now living and working.’