DEVIZES school pupil Josh Wills has been honoured by the Wiltshire High Sherriff for his role with the Splash holiday club.

Josh, 15, has taken part in a number of Splash projects which help young people who are facing challenges in their life and has now become a mentor for others.

Organisers were so impressed with his attitude that he was put forward for recognition and has now received a special achievement award from High Sherriff Lady Gooch.

A Splash spokesman said: "Josh has joined us on many splash projects over the last few years including cooking, kayaking, raft building, first aid, den building and survival skills to name but a few.

"The Splash projects have assisted Josh to become the mature, polite, well liked and reliable young man he is today. Josh always bring a sense of humour, enthusiasm and a keenness to learn to all the activities that he attends.

"Splash are keen for Josh to further develop and adopt a mentoring role more and more as he gets older which will also assist the project facilitators and young people attending Splash activities by providing them with a positive role model of similar age."

He received his award at a ceremony in aid of Splash Wiltshire and Youth Action Wiltshire hosted by Lady Gooch in Salisbury.

Splash offers free, fun and inspiring activities in all school holidays to young people, across Wiltshire, who are facing a challenge in their life.

Its aim is to provide an opportunity for young people to leave their troubles behind for a few hours and just be themselves by having fun.

A spokesman said: "By having fun and meeting new people, they have the opportunity to focus on the positivity within themselves and their lives going forward. The Splash team and carefully selected partners provide a friendly, supportive, encouraging environment to develop the participant’s level of confidence and self-esteem.

"Hands on, experiential learning helps the young people to realise their own potential which impacts on their own self-belief. Trying new activities and forming new friendships, inspires and motivates the participants and helps provide life skills that they can take forward with them. All Splash activities are challenging in one form or another from meeting a group of new people, to facing a fear, to eating in front of people, trying new foods and trying new activities."

For more information on Splash activities in the October half term visit www.splash-wiltshire.org.uk and download a booking form.