Connor, 15, overcomes difficulties and ADHD to win top award

Connor Cherry-Evans overcame a host of personal obstacles to tun his life around.

The 15-year-old has had a difficult start to life when was taken into care, as well as coping with family breakdown and a devastating move away from his neighbourhood and cultural background.

Now he has been named as the Mansfield winner in Nottinghamshire County Council’s Outstanding Achievement 4Uth Awards, which are designed to recognise the extraordinary efforts of young people.

Connor was nominated because of the way in which he has worked through a traumatic period of disruption in his life, compounded by disability, to have hopes of a more positive future.

Linda Knighton and Paul Palmer, who are county council care workers nominated Connor for the award.

They said: “Connor has managed to overcome many difficulties in his young life.”Connor has epilepsy and ADHD and must take medication for these conditions.

He has moved around the country several times, while in care and he had to cope with teenage fears as well as a lack of stable relationships.

Connor has been faced with lots of challenging situations in life that do not affect many other teenagers, and he had a record of going missing from care, before he arrived at his present home.He has worked hard to overcome these barriers and turn a difficult situation around, and is now learning new skills and is taking his educational opportunities seriously.Linda and Paul added: “Connor no longer disappears from care because he feels that he has the support and the attention he requires. Now Connor has a private tutor who teaches him maths, English, science and other subjects. He has become greatly enthused, openly showing his schoolwork to carers and others because he is so proud of what he has achieved.”“Connor was open about the fact that violence was prominent in his life, but he has achieved a remarkable turnaround.” Councillor Tracey Taylor, Vice-Chairman of the Children and Young People Committee, said: “Connor’s story shows how, with the right support, young people can turn their lives around.”