Delight at the Arun Youth Community Awards

The four St Philip Howard Catholic High School pupils scooped the overall winner's prize of this year's Arun youth community awards.

They were also named as the best group.

The achievements by Jasmine Van Zijl, 14, Naomi Easterbrook, 13, Jasmine Markwick, 13, and Megan Brodie, 14, were recognised at a presentation ceremony.

The two Jasmines and Naomi celebrated their prestigious successes at the Windmill Entertainment Centre in Littlehampton with their former citizenship teacher, Liz McNally.

Jasmine Markwick said: "It's amazing. We didn't think we would win with all these other people up for the awards."

The students formed the War On Weapons group in their school in 2008 after a talk by a police community support officer about the dangers of carrying knives.

They were also inspired by the news coverage of stabbings nationally in which teenagers were killed or seriously injured.

Naomi said: "We didn't want to have people going out with weapons. We wanted them, especially young people, to feel safe on the streets without having to carry knives."

Jasmine Markwick said: "We wanted to find out the reason why young people committed those crimes and to stop them."

The group designed a WOW logo and compiled a leaflet which set out the laws against carrying knives and the dangers of the practice.

They sent this widely to influential individuals such as Gordon Brown, the heads of Tesco and Sainsbury's and singer Lily Allen.

The prime minister's office replied with thanks to the students for

their work.

A formal, three-page response came from the Home Office.

Mrs McNally said: "They have worked so hard with such a small group of people, they deserve these successes."

Organised by Inspire Leisure, with Arun District Council and the Arun Youth Council, the annual awards recognise outstanding acts by young people.

The youth councillors judged the nominations for 32 young people.

Youth council chairman James Peters said: "It was really difficult to choose who should win the main awards as the outstanding acts of charity, bravery and voluntary work were all deserving.

"These awards are a beacon to the entire district of just how much good the youth of Arun does."

This is the full list of Bognor area winners and nominees in the 2010 Arun youth community awards

Overall winner:

War On Weapons: Megan Brodie, 14; Naomi Easterbrook, 14; Jasmine Marwick, 13; Jasmine Van Zijl, 14 (St Philip Howard Catholic High School, Barnham).

Individual runner-up: Katy Bird, 16, Bognor Regis Community College. Katy spends countless hours giving up her time to support and motivate young people in school and in the community to play sport.

She is a great sport leader and had volunteered more than 160 hours between September and last month. She also runs a weekly after-school club for her local primary school to give the children the chance to enjoy extra sport.

Nominated: Kelly Brooks, 15, Barnham '“ Volunteers at her local youth club and has received an award for 100 hours of helping. Currently finishing a baby-sitting course. Also involved in youth organisations.

Sophie Potter, 18, Bognor '“ Described as a hard-working and giving individual.Helps at a dance project for adults with learning difficulties. Also volunteers for textiles, dance and swimming groups. Gained sports leaders awards.

Katie Van Driel, 14, Felpham '“ Helps with her father's charity building schools and an orphanage in Nepal in spite of losing her mother and a grandparent last year.

Tim Magilton, 16, Barnham '“ His bravery and courage has enabled him to sit his GCSEs in spite of having Aspergers syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Always friendly and helpful.

Group winner: War On Weapons.

Group runner-up: Westergate youth wing volunteers '“ Georgie Denyer, 16, Barnham; Hannah Hill, 14: Eartham; Scarlett Spurway, 14, Woodgate; Jazmine Harris, 13, Westergate; Hayley Dean, 15, Arundel; David O'Leary, 13, Eastergate; Joe Rideout, 17, Woodgate; and Sasha Philips, 16, Woodgate.

This group spend many hours helping out on the youth wing. Their duties vary from collecting subscriptions, planning and evaluating activities to running the coffee bar and generally helping the youth wing's users.

Nominated: Youth of Bognor young leaders '“ Keri Heffernan, 17, Middleton; Davy Portway, 14, Felpham; Molly Morgan, 16, Bersted; Rory Myers, 16, Barnham; Charlotte Basford, Bognor; Claire Amaladoss, 17, Bognor; Mikey Brown, 16, Yapton; Megan Van Driel, 15, Felpham; Danielle Slade, 17, Tangmere; Liam Wright, 18, Rose Green; Megan Hamilton, 15, Felpham; and Bethan Hamilton, 17, Felpham.

Their commitment allowed the 2009 YoB camp an unforgettable experience. They were proactive, enthusiastic and responsible and took part in activities from arts and crafts to synchronised swimming and archery.