Charity founder picks up Pride of Birmingham award

Founder of charity Cherished, which provides support for girls in primary and secondary schools across Birmingham, Hannah Simnett, has won a Pride of Birmingham award.

She picked up the Community Hero Award during a virtual version of the annual event, hosted by BirminghamLive and supported by TSB, last night.

Hannah established Cherished a decade ago in Sutton Coldfield, aged just 18.

Today, the charity works with hundreds of children and teenagers across Birmingham.

The charity provides self-esteem workshops and mentoring schemes to help empower and develop the "true potential of young girls".

According to Cherished, more than 1,000 girls have been nurtured through its 1:1 mentoring scheme, Blossom Groups and Conferences.

They have also trained more than 700 women to be skilled mentors for young girls.

Speaking to BirminghamLive on her award win, Hannah said: "Obviously the award has got my name on it but it 's a team effort. I can do a lot on my own but I can 't do half as much without my team on my side. The trophy is not going on my mantelpiece - it 's going in the office.

“I do feel touched that people have got on board with the vision I had at 18. I don 't feel like I go to work, I have found what my purpose is."

Pictured: Hannah with her award