A MUSICIAN who has played a key role in helping to bring a community together has been recognised for his dedication.

Mike McGrother, who has founded and help organise several key projects to promote Stockton, has been awarded a Point of Light Award from the Prime Minister.

The 46-year-old has helped more than 100 young people who are not in education, training or employment, to develop skills to get them into work.

The frontman of the Wildcats of Kilkenny founded social enterprise Matty's Bistro, alongside local chef Matty Brown, where young people can train to become chefs or waiting staff.

He also played a key part in the First World War commemorations across the town, including the poignant sunflower project where each fallen soldier from the borough was remembered through the planting of a sunflower seed.

The community activist also launched ‘One Red Sunflower’ that encouraged more than 500 people to walk a combined distance of more than 500 miles to raise awareness about mental health, alcohol addiction and substance misuse.

He said: "Stockton is becoming renowned for its community spirit and I am just a small cog within a fantastic mechanism of people and ideas. I do what I do because I love my borough and the people in it. I feel humbled and honoured to receive this award and hope it helps others to step forward to get involved with confidence and positivity so that our community can continue to thrive and flourish for generations to come.”

The campaigner also helped co-ordinate the town's defence after it featured in the controversial Benefits Street series on Channel 4.

Announcing the award, Prime Minister David Cameron said: "Mike has truly dedicated his life to building a stronger, more inclusive society in Stockton.

"He has created too many projects to list them all but Matty’s Bistro is one initiative of which he should be particularly proud.

"Offering young people the opportunity to learn real skills and showcase them to gain permanent employment has directly changed the lives of many of the young people Mike has worked with.

"He really is a Point of Light in those young people’s lives and I am delighted to recognise him with this award.”

Stockton South MP James Wharton joined in the praise. He said: "This award is further well deserved recognition of the work Mike has done over many years for our community. His projects have made an individual difference to so many young people’s lives, but he’s had a wider impact on our whole area too.

"Mike is a fantastic ambassador for Stockton and for Teesside.”