AN award-winning Bury teenager is all set to give local disabled youngsters a cash boost.

For Peel Lions' youth competition winner, 18-year-old Emma Rabone, Ieft, has won the district final of the Lions International Youth Award at the Barton Grange Hotel, Preston.

Lions Clubs from throughout the North-west were represented.

The aim of the competition, which operates throughout Britain and Ireland, is to recognise and support young people who are actively involved in community service work.

And the £500 first prize, which was donated by Reuters, must be spent on a community project with which the winner is involved.

Emma asked for the money to be given to Jigsaw, a group she has been involved with for some time based at the Seedfield Resource Centre, Bury.

Emma said: "Jigsaw is a group of friends, some of whom have a disability. The aim is to widen the social life of young people with a physical disability or sensory impairment.

"The members of Jigsaw are of the opinion that, because a person has a disability, it does not mean that they can't enjoy a rich and varied social life."

The prize money won by Emma will be used to extend the Summer Freedom Activities Programme in 1999 which will be organised by Jigsaw for young people aged 13-25 and which runs during the summer holidays for about six weeks. The disabled youngsters are matched on a one-to-one basis with able bodied volunteers such as Emma.

Being with other people their own age helps them improve their social skills, builds confidence and gives them some independence away from their families.

The next step in the Lions International Youth Award for Emma is for her to take part in the national final in Solihull on Saturday, February 27.

She will be supported there by members of the Ramsbottom- based Peel Lions as she tries to win the £1,000 prize.

Peel Lions Welfare Director, Alec Sutcliffe, said: "All members of our club are delighted with Emma's achievement. The competition has enabled Emma to gain valuable experience in making a presentation about her involvement with Jigsaw and being interviewed by a very experienced trio of judges.

"This can only be to her benefit when she applies to Universities in the near future for a course in social studies and when she subsequently applies for a job.

"It is wonderful than a local organisation such as Jigsaw can benefit from Emma's success and we have every confidence that Emma's personality and dedication will give her an excellent chance of winning the national final in Solihull next month."

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