Congratulations to our own William (Bill) Sharp who was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for services to youth, at the weekend.

Mr Bill Sharp has run the Futures Programme in Wainuiomata for at-risk students for the past 24 years.

Mr Sharp established a support programme for teenage boys in 1997, initially established with a sports focus and which continues to this day as the Futures Programme. His programme supports students who are seen to be“slipping through the cracks” of society, where he provides physical, spiritual and emotional well-being services. On Tuesdays and Thursdays each week he begins an exercise session in the morning for Wainuiomata High School students and provides each of them with a breakfast, usually at his own expense, followed by a mentoring session before the students attend a regular school day. As a result of this programme, he has personally helped dozens of young men to get their life back in the right direction. Mr Sharp has also given more than 30 years of service to local sports clubs in the Wellington region, and more than 15 years of service to athletics coaching.

Congratulations Sharpie. We are incredibly proud of you and grateful for everything you have done for us, our students and our community over the years.

For more information please go to: https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/queens-birthday-honours-list-2020https://dpmc.govt.nz/publ…/queens-birthday-honours-list-2020 and https://dpmc.govt.nz/honours/lists/qb2020-qsm#sharpwi.