They were nominated by Ryan Hardy for his great commitment and wonderful personality during the PL Inspires programme.

Stevie has been an outstanding participant on the PL Inspires programme and he has shown true commitment and dedication when completing any task. As part of the programme this season, participants where tasked with creating a garden that could represent the LFC Foundation at the 2023 Southport Flower Show and this is where his ambition and creativity shone through. On Thursday 18th May, Stevie took on the challenge of presenting his idea alone to a panel of judges (LFC Foundation Staff, Scholars and a professional landscaper). Although he was afforded the opportunity to participate in the task as a group, he opted to take on the challenge alone, not because he isn't a team player but because of his ability to work independently and the motivation to work on his idea in his own time ensuring his idea was the best it possibly could be. He said at his age working as a team outside of school to complete a project isn't possible. Stevie presented his idea perfectly using humour throughout to keep the audience and judges entertained but staying true to the theme of the garden which was Mental Health. Stevie came out on top on the day winning the right to have his garden idea brought to life at this year’s Flower Show. Not only did he have such a unique idea, it was the way he transferred his learning into the idea, the time he took to plan and the preparation time of rehearsing up until the very last moment is the reason Stevie is very deserving of this award.

The PL Inspires programme has seen participants focus on creating a project that aims to 'Protect the Planet' and for this challenge participants needed to create a garden in turn will protect the planet but more so showcase the importance of looking after your mental health. Stevie has participated in workshops with the LFC Foundations Mental Health team which raised his awareness on the subject supporting his garden idea further. Since participating in the programme Stevie has developed further whilst still settling into secondary school - his infectious energy supports his peers when taking on any task and his desire to go above and beyond is fantastic to see.

In addition to this, Stevie has been ambitious during the PL Inspires programme. Taking on the task alone when all participants had the opportunity work in a team may look like a negative move by Stevie but in fact it is a true testament to him and how he faces a challenge. He stated that ‘working alone allowed me to avoid the distraction of my classmates, allowing me to focus on my idea and develop it to the highest standard whist still supporting my classmates with their gardens’. Not only did Stevie complete his garden and deliver an excellent presentation, he supported his classmates through theirs.

Ryan, PL Inspires Coordinator said,

“Stevie is a fantastic participant and a real joy to be around, he is a real had worker and thrives when working independently. His smile instantly makes you smile, and he will go out of his way to make someone's day brighter. Stevie has taken the learning from the programme to support others who he comes into contact in school and is a shoulder of support for his peers. Stevie will be involved with the garden development before the Flower Show and will continuing his learning around Protecting the Planet and Mental Health.”

His teacher, Miss Sheard from Notre Dame College said,

“Stevie is great, he has really enjoyed the programme and the opportunities he has been provided with since first engaging. At first, he wasn’t too sure if it was for him, but he has really come on leaps and bounds both personally and academically"