There’s only a month left for projects to apply for the 2010 Mentor UK CHAMP Awards and have a chance of scooping cash prizes and support worth up to £20,000.

Founded in 2006, this biennial awards scheme recognises and rewards the most inspirational projects which help prevent children and young people of 14 or under from misusing alcohol - both now and in their future lives. Appropriately, given that young people are very much at the centre of Mentor’s work, the CHAMP winners will all be chosen by panels of children and young people from across Great Britain.

Paul Tuohy, CEO of Mentor UK says:

“Whether it’s through sport, music, mentoring or classroom based work, it’s clear from the applications already coming in that the best of these projects really do provide children and young people with  opportunities and offer real alternatives to abusing alcohol.  

With twenty million units per week drunk by 11-17 year olds and with 500,000 young people drunk in the last month, we at Mentor UK believe promoting healthy attitudes and behaviours with young people as early as possible is vital and can prevent many lives being wrecked”

Previous CHAMP winners have told us:

 “It has been fantastic…..It was just the most amazing experience.  Because of the success and national recognition we have got extra funding……People are now listening, it has opened new doors and means we can work with even more children and young people”

The Mentor UK CHAMP Awards are supported by drinks producer, Diageo Great Britain, as part of their commitment to educating young people on the dangers of alcohol misuse – both now and in the future.

Mark Baird, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Diageo Great Britain adds:

“We are delighted to be associated with the CHAMP Awards again this year.  We see it as a great way to highlight and recognise some of the fantastic work that goes on around the UK in tackling the issues surrounding teenage alcohol misuse and also believe that the new CHAMP website is a superb addition to the whole awards process and a valuable platform to share good practice”

The deadline for applications is April 21st 2010.


•    Further information on the CHAMP Awards, including an application form, guidance notes, winners’ tips, winners’ video clips and resources for parents, children and teachers can be found at www.champawards.org.uk

•    CHAMP Awards in 2010 will be made in three categories:

for work in Schools
for work in Communities
for projects led by Young People

•    Three winners will each receive a £10,000 cash prize as well as up to £10,000 worth of consultancy support.