Sixteen winners have been announced for Everton in the Community’s Building Communities Together challenge, with young heroes emerging and rewarded with fantastic LEGO prizes.

The Building Communities Together challenge invited parents, teachers or anybody who knew a young person who had shown exemplary behaviour or an act of kindness during lockdown to nominate them for a special LEGO prize.

From displays of true courage during times of adversity, to examples of selfless acts and honourable work during the country’s lockdown period, the panel from Creative Hut, LEGO Education and LEGO group were treated to the fantastic stories of so many young people who demonstrated truly magnificent work during a difficult period.

The panel were joined by staff from EitC’s Premier League Inspires and Premier League Primary Stars who faced the unenviable task of judging and deciding the winners with so many terrific tales to choose from.

Whilst seven-year-old Elsie was creating thank-you notes in every single piece of PPE that her dad printed, 16-year-old Jake was volunteering for the Merseyside Fire and Rescue service, picking up and delivering prescriptions for people shielding. 

We also heard how brothers Elijah and Finley raised more than £1,500 for the NHS by selling pink ribbons and cakes, and how five-year-old Harry and seven-year-old Gabriella raised money for Chester Zoo and Chasing the Stigma respectively.

Seven-year-old Isaac raised more than £7,000 for a number of charities, one of which is Everton in the Community with a mammoth cycling challenge whilst Ella was busy creating pictures to thank her parents’ colleagues working in the NHS.

School teachers working throughout the pandemic were also sure to submit their entries on behalf of pupils who they believed were deserving of a LEGO surprise with winners from Bedford Primary School and Stockbridge Village Primary School.

 
All prizes were donated by Creative Hut, LEGO Education and LEGO Group who were left humbled by hearing the tales of how young people have reacted to the pandemic.

Creative Hut Director, Paul Chisnall, said: "Reviewing the entries for the Building Communities Together challenge was an overwhelmingly positive experience. It was incredibly emotional to hear so many accounts about young people putting others first, especially while facing times of uncertainty themselves. The empathy, understanding and creativity on display was outstanding and we were proud to play a part in celebrating such amazing youngsters."

Forming part of the panel on behalf of Everton in the Community was PL Primary Stars Manager, Olivia Cardwell, who was also equally impressed with the true measure of selflessness on show.

She added: “In what’s been a difficult period for everybody, we all loved hearing how young people have stayed safe, but have also displayed exemplary behaviour and unique acts of kindness, some of which have gone a long way in helping people and putting smiles on faces.”

The Building Communities Together challenge was the latest in a series of initiatives ran by EitC, Creative Hut, LEGO Education and LEGO group to keep young people engaged and rewarded during the last six months.

Whilst the ‘Stay Build Together’ challenge gave families the chance to submit a LEGO creation on social media with five winners chosen each week, 75 other kits were donated by CreativeHUT to community education hubs across the Liverpool City Region. These were available to use by at-risk and vulnerable children, and children of key workers who supported our city during the pandemic. A further 25 kits were also donated to participants from Everton in the Community’s 41 Goodison programme.