CAMPAIGNING schoolgirl Grace Warnock has received an award from the Prime Minister in recognition of her work to promote disability awareness in Scotland.

Grace, 12, from Prestonpans, was awarded the Points of Light Award which is given to outstanding volunteers who are making a difference in their community and inspiring others.

The Preston Lodge pupil is a pioneering disability campaigner who created a new, inclusive toilet sign which can now be seen on the doors of hundreds of disabled toilets across Scotland, including the Scottish Parliament.

Grace, who was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease at the age of 10, launched her ‘Grace’s Sign’ campaign to raise awareness that not everybody who uses a disabled toilet has a visible disability after continually facing criticism for using a disabled toilet.

Her work has also inspired the UK’s leading Crohn’s charity ‘Crohn’s and Colitis UK’ to campaign for better signage in supermarkets.

The youngster received her award on behalf of the Prime Minister from Martin Whitfield MP and MSP Iain Gray at Prestonpans Town Hall last week.

In a personal letter to Grace, Prime Minister Theresa May said: “Your innovative and pioneering campaign is making life easier for people with disabilities across Scotland and raising awareness that not all disabilities can be seen.

“You have already achieved so much by ensuring the signs you created are hanging in so many public spaces and your continuing work will take your important campaign from strength to strength.”

Mr Whitfield said: “Grace has received many accolades and awards for her amazing ‘Grace’s Sign’ campaign, all of which are very well deserved.

“It has had a profound and far-reaching impact on awareness about the lives of people with ‘invisible’ disabilities and understanding of their need to use accessible toilets.

“This Points of Light award puts Grace in a very select group of outstanding volunteers across the UK. It is an honour to be able to present her with the award and I wish Grace and her family continued success with the campaign.”

And Mr Gray, who played a key role in getting Grace’s Sign used in the Scottish Parliament, added: “I have been honoured to help and support Grace and her campaign from the outset. Grace has been instrumental in raising awareness about disabilities that cannot always be seen and the needs of the people living with these conditions.

“She showed great insight in coming up with the idea of Grace’s Sign in the first place, and her dedication to carrying it out has been exceptional.”

Grace is the 897th winner of the Points of Light award. The Prime Minister makes daily announcements of the winners to promote volunteering and the value it brings to the country.

A delighted Grace said: “It is awesome to receive this award in the Year of Young People here in Scotland. I promise to continue with my campaign and raise awareness of all invisible disabilities.”