The Mayor’s Award will this year be in memory of borough teenager Ben Corfield, it has been revealed.

The 19-year-old, who was an active member of the community and tireless charity fundraiser, tragically lost his life in a road traffic incident in November last year.

Councillor Sue Greenaway, the borough’s first citizen, has chosen three young people who have stood out for their volunteering and charity work to contest the award, which will be decided by a public vote.

Emma Macklin, 13, has raised more than £10,000 for Mary Stevens Hospice, in memory of her ‘nanna’, completing several long walks and scaling mountains.

Callum Nock, 17, has been nominated for his work since the age of 13 in setting up a Friends group to campaign for improvements at Pensnett Coppice and Katie-Jayne Wood, 14, has been helping organise Halesowen Carnival since 2015 as well as raising money for charities such as Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

The Mayor met Ben’s parents, Damian and Lynette, to officially launch the award, with voting now open. Councillor Sue Greenaway, the Mayor of Dudley, said:

"Ben was an active member in the community, having been chair of Dudley Youth Council and the town's youth member of parliament as well as running for the position of Dudley's youth police and crime commissioner.

"Ben also volunteered at the Black Country Wellbeing Centre and was an active Street Watch member, so it seemed fitting that my award should be in his memory this year.

"The three nominees have all shown an admirable sense of selflessness to either raise money for charity or work to make their communities better places, as Ben did.

"They are all winners, but of course there can only be one recipient of the award. The public vote is now open, and I would urge people to pick their favourite."

Ben's father, Councillor Damian Corfield, added: "Ben was more than a son and best friend to his mom and myself – he was a community champion.

"We’re both blown away that the Mayor of Dudley is acknowledging Ben’s commitment to championing others by naming this award after him. We have some wonderful young people here in Dudley, and for them to be acknowledged with an award in Ben’s name would make him so proud."

Voting is open until Tuesday March 21st and you can vote at mayorofdudley.org.uk/mayorsaward.

The winner will be announced at the Mayor’s Ball and Civic Awards, which take place this year at the Copthorne Hotel in Brierley Hill on Friday March 31. Tickets are available at mayorofdudley.org.uk/balltickets.