Alexander Rose was made an official ambassador at the awards following his anti-knife and gun crime work
A MERTON teenager was recognised last month at the Spirit of London Awards for his anti-knife and gun crime work.
Alexander Rose, 19, from Mitcham was made an official ambassador on November 27 for his STOP campaign and gave the closing speech.
It was the first year of the awards which celebrate young Londoners making astonishing contributions to their local communities.
Alexander said: “It was great to see more young people going above and beyond for this society.”
Gary Trowsdale, executive director of the Spirit of London Awards, said: “Alexander Rose is the epitome of the kind of person the awards programme has been modelled on.”
Mr Trowsdale says the awards disprove the theory that young people don’t respect each other as there were 3,500 nominations, mainly on a peer to peer basis.
Alexander’s speech was based on a poem written by murdered school-boy Damilola Taylor shortly before his death nine years ago.
Councillor Debbie Shears, cabinet member of children’s services, said Alexander’s campaign had impacted across the nation, not just in Merton.
“We are proud that his positive efforts are helping to steer young people away from the dangers of knife and gun crime,” Ms Shears added.
“He is an inspiration to us all.”
For more information visit www.battlefront.co.uk/campaign/stop-gun-and-knife-crime or www.spiritoflondonawards.com
