The Orkney Youth Awards were held on Thursday 19 March, with 100 young people recognised for their voluntary work in the community in front of their friends, family, and local community leaders.
Taking place in the Pickaquoy Centre cinema, around 25 different awards were handed out. They included Dynamic Youth and Youth Achievement Awards, Fire Skills and SQA 2 Awards, and a range of Saltire Awards recognising from 10 hours to 500 hours of volunteering.
The Orcadian-sponsored Community Award saw 15 young people that had been nominated by members of their local community recognised for their outstanding efforts. Silver and Gold Youth Achievement Awards were presented along with three Saltire Summit Awards, all recognising excellence and dedication. The stories of all the recipients were inspiring not only to the other young people, but also to the community leaders present.
Rachael Wild and Jennifer Nixon, both teachers at Stromness Academy, were in attendance. Jennifer said:
It was a fantastic celebration of all the achievements of our young people across a range of areas and ages, including in things that we might not know about. It was really good to see pupils recognised for everything they’re doing that’s above and beyond expectations.
Rachael said:
It was an absolutely wonderful evening. As a parent and a teacher, it's lovely to see all the young people achieve things outside of school that you don't realise.
The MC duties were ably performed by three young people, Arwen West, Jocelyn Downes, and Magnus Groundwater. Arwen said:
It was lovely to be a part of such a community-focused event and to celebrate the wonderful achievements of Orkney’s young people.
Magnus was recently part of the Stromness Academy drama group which performed at the Scottish Community Drama Association Festival. He said:
As one of its hosts it gave me great confidence and experience with talking and delivering speeches to crowds. But it was especially amazing to see and learn all the great things that the young people of Orkney were accomplishing through volunteering in order to better themselves and the community as a whole.
Jocelyn said:
I've been lucky enough to attend the youth awards for the last few years, and each year it's a reminder of the incredible things that happen in our community. I think each and every person who received an award, got involved and stepped up should be super proud of themselves. Orkney is lucky to have you.
A fine supper was enjoyed by all in attendance, courtesy of Orkney Youth Cafe and Callum's Cakes. Orkney Youth Choir and young musicians from the VAO supported ROAR group provided musical entertainment throughout the evening. A game of bingo was held during the interval, with the prize being generously donated by Grooves Toys.
The Orkney Youth Awards is made possible thanks to Voluntary Action Orkney and Orkney Islands Council’s, Community Learning, Development and Employability, Youth Services Team, supported by the Orkney Youth Worker’s Forum. The event is also sponsored by Robert Gordon University, the Pickaquoy Trust and The Orcadian.
