FELIXSTOWE teenager Lauren Prynne has won a national competition to design a logo for a pilot scheme to help the homeless.Lauren, 15, of Butley Road, submitted her entry just before Christmas and received the news that she had scooped first prize last Saturday.

By ANDY HOLLIS

andy.hollis@eveningstar.co.uk

FELIXSTOWE teenager Lauren Prynne has won a national competition to design a logo for a pilot scheme to help the homeless.

Lauren, 15, of Butley Road, submitted her entry just before Christmas and received the news that she had scooped first prize last Saturday.

"I finished my design so long ago that I'd forgotten I'd even entered and to find out I'd won came as a real surprise," the teenager said.

"I drew it all by hand using just a pen and it only took me about 20 minutes to come up with the idea. We also had to design a slogan to go underneath and mine was 'for young people.'"

The logo will be used on all letterheads, business cards and other stationery sent out by the Safe Moves project.

This is a government-funded scheme to help those who are about to become homeless find new accommodation before they end up on the streets.

The prize was a cheque for £200 of which Lauren got to keep £50 and the other £150 went to the Level2 youth drop in centre that Lauren regularly uses.

"I don't know what I'm going to do with my prize yet," she said.

Although she admits she can draw she wouldn't describe herself as arty. When she leaves Deben High School she would like to work for a travel agent.

Nineteen other youngsters from the centre entered the competition but Lauren's design shone through.

Catherine Knight, youth worker at Level2, said: "The judges probably liked the design because it was simple and gets the message across. We at the centre are very proud of her and all her hard efforts."

Her Dad was very surprised at her achievement. "I don't know what she gets up to when she visits the drop in centre," he joked.