University man rewarded

John Buttrick, who runs the Children's University in Hull, has won one of the country's leading prizes for community excellence - the Sieff Award.

The award, sponsored by Marks & Spencer, recognises how an individual, or organisation, has best collaborated with business to benefit society. The Children's University, launched in 1997 in Gipsyville, has spread to other areas of the city, helping 6,500 Hull schoolchildren improve literacy and numeracy skills through out-of-school mentoring.

The Prince of Wales presented Mr Buttrick, who has been full-time project manager for the university since 1998, with the award at Business in the Community's National Awards for Excellence gala dinner at the Albert Hall, London. Business in the Community, Yorkshire and Humber, established the university after gaining strong support from more than 60 businesses who have provided mentors and from the City Council.

An unusual feature of the scheme us that it is accredited with Hull University, enabling business mentors to receive credits towards a mentoring degree.