A sixth former from Stevenage has been nominated for this year’s Comet Community Awards for her commitmment to campaigning and development work as part of the Young Members of the Lister Hospital group working to involve young people in the NHS.

Edlyn Boateng-Mensah, 16, was put forward for the Young Achiever category - backed by Letchworth-based sponsors Altro Ltd by Head of Engagement at East and North Herts NHS Trust, David Brewer for her work as part of the Young Members of the Lister Hospital.

David said: “Edlyn joined us two years ago and since then she has got involved with every opportunity available to her.”

“She is enthusiastic, she leads young members and has made a massive contribution to the Lister, both in the development of services and volunteering to help feed and spend time with patients.”

Edlyn’s achievements include training as a young inspector to go in and evaluate services for young people, helping to develop the hospital’s new community hub enabling the public to access NHS employment and other services and producing her own short films to promote the NHS, one of which she presented at the trust’s annual meeting in front of 300 people when she was just 15.

David said: “Edlyn has dedicated a tremendous amount of commitment and energy to the cause. She is enthusiastic and has fantastic ideas to develop our hospital. She’s an inspiration especially as she’s done all this while being at school – she deserves this nomination.”

Edlyn was surprised to learn she had been put forward. She said: “It feels really good to be recognised but I don’t do it for me, I want to help people and being given the opportunity to put my ideas forward has meant that I can help young people to get involved with their NHS and can represent them, because it is often young people that get overlooked.

“I love helping people and spending time with patients. For me it’s not about what I can get out of it, but it’s about what I can give.”

Finalists chosen by a panel of judges will be invited to a ceremony held in May at the Icknield Centre in Letchworth.