Future Star nominee – Hope Carter

Future Star nominee – Hope Carter

During her reign as Endon Well Dressing Queen Hope Carter wants to raise both the profile and the biodiversity of the local area.

The 10-year-old, a pupil at St Luke’s Academy in the village, was crowned at a ceremony in May and will reign for one year.

She has already planted a community orchard, been on litter picks, planted pollinator flowers in the local park and distributed wildflower seeds to homes in Endon and neighbouring Stanley.

She is currently growing sunflowers, some to give away in the village and others to plant in the park.

Hope regularly enters agricultural shows with things she has grown and plans to donate any prize money she receives this year to St Luke’s Church at the end of her year as queen. She is also planning fundraising events.

Hope has been nominated as a Future Star in the Your Heroes Awards by her proud mum, Joanne Carter.

Joanne said: “I’m absolutely astonished by what she does. I’m so proud of her. She applied, unsuccessfully, to be Endon Well Dressing Queen last year and was so disappointed. I was surprised when she wanted to try again this year but she was determined that she had something to give to the local area.

“She’s overcome that disappointment from last year, she’s grown and it’s made her more determined.”

Primary aged children submit an application form to take on the historic role of Endon Well Dressing Queen and then give a speech about themselves to a committee as part of the selection process.

“She was so happy to be chosen this year,” said Joanne. “She was smiling all the way home after she received the news.

“She’s planning various things to raise the profile and boost the biodiversity of the area as it’s all about the environment for her. She loves making people smile.”