A YOUNGSTER whose charitable spirit and social enterprise has seen him recognised at Westminster has been nominated for the Young Citizen of the Year Award. 


Ryan meeting Prince Charles Ryan Bickle, one of 50 #iwill young ambassadors with the Step Up to Serve campaign, of which Prince Charles is the patron,  travelled to London to learn about his new role in November. 

The 10-year-old’s role came partly as a result of his dedication to supporting St Mary’s Hospice, a charity he has raised money for since losing his granddad. 

Ryan said: “My granddad was one of my favourite people to spend time with. When he died I cried for days. 

“I decided that I should do something to help other people who had the illness my granddad had, so I had a jumble sale and made money for the hospice.” 

Ryan first demonstrated his enterprising spirit when he persuaded his dad Andy, a chef at Furness General Hospital, to teach his class at school about healthy eating. 

The resulting project, which saw the class design and make meals for the FGH children’s ward, was such a success that Victoria Academy’s Year Three classes now take part every year. 

His other charitable efforts have seen him donate his birthday money to charity, give items to charity shops and make loom band bracelets to sell for Children in Need. 

His latest role is as student leader for his school’s Harvest project, which has seen the pupils collect food to pack into hampers for elderly people in their community. Ryan has also helped pack shoeboxes for children in Romania.

Click here  to read about the 2016 Love Barrow Awards