An inspiring teenager who uses his time to give back to his community has been recognised with an award.
R’amarnai Anderson helps run weekly sports sessions for young people from deprived areas and delivers food parcels to vulnerable people and the homeless in Nottingham.
“Outreach is about supporting different communities, supporting areas, and helping the homeless,” R’amarnai said. “We target the youths that are involved in antisocial behaviour and the homeless people that may need support.
“This is important to me because even though there is crime and antisocial behaviour, it shows that there’s a different path in life rather than going down a negative route.”
R’amarnai has been awarded this year’s Community Hero Award, which recognises a young person who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to their community.
The award forms part of the Live Our Best Life Awards, which was launched by Nottinghamshire Police in 2021 to shine a light on the inspiring work of young people across the county.
R’amarnai was nominated for the award by The Pythian Club – a Nottingham-based non-profit organisation that supports communities in deprived areas with diversionary activities and constructive pathways for young people.
“Recognising all the hard work I’ve done is pretty good, but to be picked for this award from more than one hundred people is a big achievement and I’m happy to have won,” R’amarnai said.
After being excluded from school, R’amarnai has turned his life around with the support of The Pythian Cub.
He now helps organise and deliver different weekly sports sessions, including football on Friday evenings, which sees dozens of young people come together to socialise and relax.
The 17-year-old also supports holiday programmes in schools and volunteers to mentor other young people, acting as a positive role model.
Acrobats perform at the Live Our Best Life Award 2025, at force headquarters.
R’amarnai’s efforts have even earned a recent visit to 10 Downing Street to speak with the Prime Minister about his community work, engagement through sport, and youth access to green spaces.
“It makes me happy to be involved because I’ve done a lot whilst I’ve been here and had some pretty good experiences and opportunities,” R’amarnai said.
“I’m giving the full 100 per cent back to my community because they gave me their full 100 per cent.”
Ben Rosser, founder of The Pythian Club, said: “I nominated R’amarnai for the Live Our Best Life Awards because I’ve seen the great progression he’s made.
“I see what a role model he is for not only himself but for his peers.
“R’amarnai has had struggles in his life, he’s been through difficulties, he got excluded from school, but he’s shown with perseverance, determination and hard work you can achieve greatness, and he certainly has.”
