Northwards Housing

Councillor Naeem Hassan, the Deputy Lord Mayor of Manchester, told the pupils the work they were doing in communities across north Manchester was ‘fantastic’ and ‘heroic’.

The pupils, from nine different primary schools across north and east Manchester, were presented with their awards at a glitzy ceremony at the Manchester Communications Academy on 13 July 2012.

The youngsters are one of the first groups in the country to be given a qualification for taking part in the Urban Crew. The ASDAN qualification is nationally recognised and is the equivalent of one unit of a GCSE. It rewards youngsters for developing essential life skills.

Ian Gillett, the Urban Crew project co-ordinator, said: “I am so proud of the Urban Crew and everything they have achieved this year.

"The awards show that these youngsters are truly at the top of their game.

"No other primary school children in the country have the ASDAN qualification and that proves that what we're doing here is really special."

Awards were also given to the pupils who had shone the most from their schools. One overall winner was also picked. Dylan Hoyland bagged his school a £500 reward for his dedication over the school year.

Des Burns, Dylan’s headteacher at Christ the King Primary in Newton Heath, said: “We’re so proud of Dylan and all our Crew members, they do an amazing job as our environmental champions, keeping the school and community safe and secure.”