LEADING figures in the community are being urged to spread the word about successful St Helens people past and present to help raise aspiration among the town’s youngsters.

The call to increase awareness of the great stories from the borough’s past was made by St Helens Council’s chief executive Mike Palin as he addressed a network of business ambassadors this week.

The Invest in St Helens campaign, which aims to drive growth across the borough and make it central to the development of the Northern Powerhouse, was established earlier this year.

One of its key aims is to use a network of ambassadors to influence how St Helens is portrayed.

But a major task is also getting the positive message through to St Helens’ next generation and tackling the historic problem of low aspiration.

Addressing ambassadors at the Mercure Hotel, Mr Palin said he had visited head teachers at secondary and primary schools to stress the importance of promoting a positive message to pupils about St Helens, particularly the town’s achievements in pharmaceuticals and industry.

He said: “The messages you (the ambassadors) hear must resonate.

“They need to be heard by every child in St Helens to get the message across about all the great people from the town.

“By describing what has been achieved we can raise aspiration.”

The event focused on celebrating St Helens.

It featured acclaimed St Helens-born journalist and author Charles Nevin, who has written for newspapers such as The New York Times.

Former soldier Andy Reid described his battle to overcome the injures he suffered in an Afghanistan bomb blast that left him a triple amputee.

Carmel College students Edward Hodgson, 16, and Sam McQuiggan, 17, the chair and deputy chair of the St Helens Youth Council, also addressed the audience.