The murder of a 16-year-old boy who was stabbed to death outside his Edgware school in 2006 left a community angered and in mourning.

But a fellow pupil of the tragic Kiyan Prince has since spent his life setting up youth groups and activities to steer young people away from knife and gun crime.

Darwin Bernardo, of Grahame Park, Colindale, has now been recognised with a Team London Award for his “outstanding contribution to improving the quality of life for Londoners”.

The 23-year-old is the founder of Edgware-based youth group Nutmeg – standing for new, unique, talented, motivated and energetic generation.

His work with local authorities, the police and various community groups has led to a thriving, positive youth scene in the town.

He said: “If young people are involved in something then they are deterred away from the streets.

“With knife crime on the rise, our policy has been to create as many opportunities as possible for them and keep throwing them their way until they’re picked up.”

Since the violent death of Kiyan outside the London Academy, Darwin has, among other things, set up workshops in schools, initiated schemes to make London’s streets safer and raised thousands of pounds to pay for community initiatives.

He works seven days a week, contacting politicians and businesses and recruiting young volunteers to provide opportunities for the next generation in and around Edgware.

Since Nutmeg was formed in 2008, Darwin has worked with more than 4,000 young people in the capital and now has a team of 50 volunteers in the organisation.

He said: “Kiyan’s death really gave me the motivation to help young people – just seeing that it can happen to anyone in a community. It makes you try to do everything you can to prevent it happening again.”

Darwin was nominated for his accolade by Community Barnet, which encourages volunteer organisations in the borough, and he attended a presentation ceremony on Thursday, March 1.

The awards recognise individuals and volunteer groups from across the capital and are backed by London Mayor Boris Johnson.

Darwin said: “I thought I had a one in a million chance of winning. So much so that I didn’t realise they were describing me when they were explaining what the winner had achieved. I just thought ‘wow this person has done a lot’. When they read my name it was total shock.

“We don’t do this for recognition but it is nice to know that someone is listening – it gives you a validation to carry on going, and that is what we are going to do.”