91Èȱ¬

Last night (Sunday 3 October) 91Èȱ¬ Radio 1 DJ Tom Deacon called on the nation to nominate their most inspirational teenagers to scoop awards at the first ever Radio 1's Teen Awards, due to be held on 14 November at Hammersmith Apollo in London.

Radio 1 listeners have two weeks to nominate teenagers who they feel should be recognised in the three award categories*: Teen Hero, Teen Community Hero and Teen Entrepreneur. The nominations can be submitted online until 9pm on 17 October at bbc.co.uk/radio1.

The nominations will be short-listed by Radio 1 and then a panel of industry insiders, experts and celebrities will meet to discuss the entries and select the winners.

These very special Teen Hero awards will be presented alongside the awards for top stars from the music and entertainment world in 2010 and will form the centrepiece of the whole ceremony.

The star-studded event is set to feature performances from some of the biggest music stars in the teen world.

Ben Cooper, Deputy Controller, Radio 1, says: "I'm passionate that Radio 1 supports and celebrates young people of the UK who make a difference to the lives of their family, friends or community. This 91Èȱ¬ event will recognise outstanding contributions by young people – I’m looking forward to seeing the nominations and I’m sure picking only three winners will be a tough job."

The 91Èȱ¬ Radio 1's Teen Awards will be shown on 91Èȱ¬ Three during week beginning 15 November. More details about the broadcast schedule, celebrity awards, line-up and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.

Ahead of the awards ceremony, The Surgery, fronted by Aled Haydn Jones will focus on the lives of a number of teenagers from across the United Kingdom who inspire others.

Already this year, Radio 1 has delivered impactful social action campaigns around volunteering and body image.

Radio 1 is available on FM, DAB, Digital TV and online at bbc.co.uk/radio1.

Notes to Editors

*The Teen Hero award categories

Teen Hero
The criteria to qualify for nomination is that the nominee must have acted in one or more of the follow ways: (I) acted selflessly, (ii) inspired others, (iii) acted with courage and bravery, or (iv) ensured a positive outcome for an individual or family member.

Teen Community Hero
The criteria to qualify for nomination is that the nominee must have acted in one or more of the follow ways: (i) inspired the local community to provide something remarkable for the community or individual (ii) made an outstanding contribution to the local community

Teen Entrepreneur
The criteria to qualify for nomination is that the nominee must have initiated a successful, innovate or profitable product, business model or company or ii) worked with an existing company or organisation to enhance their business considerably.

Social Action Campaigns on Radio 1
Radio 1 and 91Èȱ¬ Radio 1Xtra's social action campaigns are an integral part of the stations' ethos and service to young people – offering support networks/information and a platform for young people to give their opinions.

The stations have an exceptional reputation for raising awareness of different topics and for the information they provide. Recent campaigns have included anti-bullying, body image, volunteering and The Summer Surgery.

On Radio 1, Sunday evening (9-10pm) plays host to The Surgery, presented by Aled Haydn Jones. This features debates and specials covering relevant citizenship and topical themes. The programme content offers support and access to experts such as Dr Mel, who specialises in medical and emotional issues, and Dr Stuart, who helps with sexual health and relationship problems.

Radio 1's daily Newsbeat provides a comprehensive service targeted at young audiences, explaining key issues and offering opportunities for people to express their views.

Teenage depression, interest rates and the credit crunch, plus the debate around the reclassification of cannabis, are among the subjects that have generated significant audience feedback.

TM