Ballyclare girl wins top creative writing accolade

Olivia Bamber from Ballyclare won the National Deaf Children’s Society’s (NDCS) St Michael Trophy for creative writing for a young person with additional complex physical needs award at the event on Wednesday, March 9.

The courageous 12-year-old suffers from FSH Muscular Dystrophy and is deaf as a result of side effects from the condition.

Mum Lisa said: “Olivia is shocked at winning the award. It’s made her feel on top of the world and she feels like a celebrity due to all the cards, presents and messages she’s received from friends and family telling her how proud they are of her. She put a lot of hard work and hours into writing her story. We hope winning the award encourages her to keep reading, keep writing and with this little bit of recognition makes her believe in herself as much as myself, her dad and her two sisters do. With all the health problems she’s endured from the age of four, we’re always grateful for the events run by the NDCS as a way of escape, allowing Olivia to have fun with other young people with similar hearing issues.”

Her principal, Anne Magee added: “This is an incredible achievement for Olivia, who enjoys expressing herself in both story and art. It’s wonderful she has received this recognition.”