Posted on 17th Feb
To coincide with second world war Polish hero and humanitarian Irena Sendler’s birthday, schools are being invited to nominate their pupils for the Irena Sendler Young Person Award.
The award has been introduced to continue Irena’s enduring legacy of celebrating kindness, courage and tolerance towards others.
Primary and secondary schools across the district can now nominate pupils to be recognised for selfless and thoughtful acts and good deeds towards others.
During the second world war, Irena worked tirelessly to help protect and rescue many Jewish children and their families in German-occupied Poland.
She was part of a network of workers and volunteers who smuggled Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto. She would provide them with false identity documents and shelter them with willing Polish families or in orphanages and other care facilities, saving those children from the Holocaust.
To nominate one of their pupils, schools are invited to submit a nomination explaining how the individual has demonstrated an act of kindness and selflessness either for a peer or for their wider community.
This could be from wanting to make a difference in their community, raising money for a local charity or supporting someone going through a challenging time or an act of bravery.
The award was formally launched on Holocaust Memorial Day by Newark and Sherwood District Council chair Coun Jean Hall and Newark Town Mayor Coun Diane Ledger, alongside dignitaries from the Polish community, including the Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Manchester, Ireneusz Truszkowski, and the Deputy Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, Air Chief Marshall Rt’d Sir Andrew Pulford.
The closing date for nominations is Friday, 27th June and awards will be presented take place at the Newark and Sherwood Community Awards in September alongside the already established Irena Sendler Humanitarian Award.
Four winners will receive a £25 voucher and certificate, and their nominating school will also receive a contribution of £125 towards learning resources.
More information about the Irena Sendler Young Person Award is available on the district council website www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/irena-sendler-young-person-award
