THIS year's Pride of Somerset Youth Awards are being sponsored by a leading expert in psychological fitness.

Founded by the Rotary Club of Taunton, the awards were created to honour the amazing achievements of young individuals throughout the county, whether it be in the arts, sports, or even overcoming personal challenges.

Sponsored by Bounce Forward, the Championing Positive Mental Health Award is dedicated in celebrating young people who engage in promoting mental well-being. This could be for both themselves and those around them.

Bounce Forward works to support young people's mental health via experts in training teachers and parents, which helps them make a difference to young people's lives.

The charity's website reads: "We develop psychological fitness, the combination of mental resilience and emotional wellbeing. A charity with a difference, creating big impact in the most important topic of the 21st century.

"Psychological fitness is the combination of mental resilience and emotional wellbeing.

"These attributes deliver benefits across our lives. This learning is linked to greater educational achievement, improve productivity, less crime, better physical health, reduced mortality, higher incomes, and more participation in community life.

"Bounce Forward is about rebalancing education, and asking schools to teach psychological fitness as part of the core curriculum by professionally trained teachers.

"We have a strong track record of increasing children’s emotional wellbeing and equipping them with the skills deal with changing environments and navigate effectively through life."

This year, the award ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 16, 6.30pm-9pm at The McMillan Theatre, Bridgwater.

Speaking about its partnership with Bounce Forward, Claire Pearce, from Gravity, said: “Gravity is immensely proud be the main sponsor of these awards as well as the ‘Environmental’ award.

"We welcome the opportunity to recognise and promote the inspirational young people across Somerset who go above and beyond for their communities.

"We are also delighted to introduce our key partners at Bounce Forward and Bridgwater United Community Sports Trust as sponsors of the ‘Championing Positive Mental Health’ and ‘Community Hero’ awards, respectively.

"The Gravity work on environmental and social governance is a team effort to contribute positively to the locality and help prepare and inspire young people about the future ahead.”