AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD from Test Valley has been crowned the winner in a BBC award for feeding homeless people every Sunday.
Elle Holdaway took home the gold in the Young Achiever category, as part of the BBC Radio Solent Community Heroes Awards, on Friday.
The Young Achiever award can be given to anyone aged 18-years-old or under, which aims to celebrate "hard work" and how it makes communities "a better place", according to BBC Radio Solent.
As reported, the Halterworth Primary School pupil was shortlisted for the award by a panel of judges from a list of nominees sent in by the public.
READ: Eight-year-old is nominated for BBC Radio Solent award >>>
Elle was recognised for giving those living on Southampton's streets bread rolls, tomatoes and cookies alongside her mother, Lisa, every Sunday since her seventh birthday.
Now, Lisa has spoken of the shocking moment her daughter was announced the winner, adding Elle will "not stop" trying to help those in need.
She said: "I said to Elle just being nominated was an achievement and during the awards she kept saying to me 'I am not going to win'.
"When her name was announced she almost hit the ceiling and it was amazing to see her so happy and excited - it was beautiful.
"I was absolutely shocked and Elle was dancing around the room."
READ: Elle donates gifts to charities with Hampshire MP >>>
The 44-year-old, who lives in Chilworth, added: "Elle had a few minutes to speak, where she thanked everyone and said they were all 'doing a really good job', so it was sweet she was thinking about the other two children who didn't win.
"Elle loves feeding homeless people, but she has now got involved with [the Southampton charity] Yellow Door, because it is about giving things to children who are going through a horrible time in their life."
When asked how Elle came up with her idea to feed homeless people every Sunday, Lisa said: "Elle started doing this after she saw a man sleeping in a doorway and she had lots of questions about why he was sleeping there, so I explained he did not have a house.
"A few weeks later it was her brother's birthday and we still had a half of a huge Costco cake left over, so Elle said 'we need to give it to homeless people' and from then on we have not stopped helping people."
The winner of the Young Achiever award was announced "shortly before midday", with the category featuring between 11.30am and 12pm, according to a spokesperson from BBC Radio Solent.
To follow Elle’s journey, visit https://www.instagram.com/ellesangellittlestar/.
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