A CARING West Kilbride teenager has won a prestigious national award for his pioneering work in mental health.

Andrew Taylor was given the accolade at a ceremony at the Scottish Parliament for his efforts in tackling the stigma surrounding mental health and encouraging fellow High School of Glasgow pupils to open up.

The sixth year is the first ever from his school to be given a Diana Award, which was set up in 1999 in memory of Princess Diana, to recognise young people who are making difference through change.

His commendation said: "Andrew has been a huge asset in promoting the mental health and wellbeing of pupils at his school.

"He openly encourages pupils to talk about their feelings and seek help by sharing his own experience, helping to break down barriers and tackle the stigma around mental health

"He struggled during his exams and used to find it difficult to ask for help, but after reaching out for support he realised how important it is for young people to talk about their feelings.

"Since then, he has worked tirelessly and selflessly to promote an accessible service for pupils which supports their mental health."

Andrew has been providing peer group support through his school’s new health and wellbeing centre, led by senior school nurse and trained counsellor Jane Sim.

He has worked with Mrs Sim to make the centre services more accessible to all pupils at the school.

Last week, he was also recognised at the school's 2019 prizegiving where he received the Robin Easton Quaich for 'the most outstanding service to the school'.

The teen has also been commended by royalty, having met Prince Edward, the Duke of Sussex, earlier in the year.

Andrew met the prince after receiving a Duke of Edinburgh gold award for his extraordinary beekeeping skills, developing a colony of 100,000 bees at his home in West Kilbride.

Prince Edward talked to him about his interest in the art and asked him about the honey he produces for sale locally.