GARDAÍ SEEK TO REWARD DESERVING YOUNG PEOPLE

FRIENDS, family, neighbours, coaches and leaders are being urged to put forward deserving young people as nominations open for the Wicklow Garda Youth Awards 2017.

‘Wicklow gardaí recognise that a lot of great work is being done by the young people in many communities throughout County Wicklow,’ said Garda Emma Skinner, a juvenile liasion officer and project leader of the awards. ‘We wish to acknowledge and reward this work through the Garda Youth Awards.’

She said that awards will be considered for nominated young people who, by their presence make their communities (or society in general) a better place in which to live.

Previous winners have contributed to society in a whole host of ways – from volunteering, raising money for charity and encouraging use of the Irish language, to taking special care of a family member, carrying out community work, and bravely facing serious illness.

There will also be awards for groups of two or more young people whose combined efforts contributed positively to their communities or others in general. Special Achievement Awards will be considered for those young people who have defied the odds or overcome difficulties during their lives.

Award nominees must be aged between 12 and 21 and live in Co Wicklow. Any member of the public (including gardaí or family members) can nominate anyone they feel deserves an award.

The judging panel consists of three independent individuals who deal with youth affairs on a daily basis, namely Alison Fox, a youth officer for KWETB; Fionnuala Curry, coordinator of Wicklow Children’s and Young Persons Services Committee; and Dermot O’Brien, who is coordinator of Wicklow Comhairle.

The official awards night will take place on February 9 in the Arklow Bay Hotel.

This year’s awards are sponsored by Wicklow County Partnership while the Wicklow People and Bray People are media sponsors.

A nomination form is printed on the opposite page and they will be distributed widely, throughout the county to youth clubs, sports clubs, secondary schools and Garda Stations. Nomination forms can also be obtained via the Facebook page ‘Wicklow Garda Youth Awards’ or by emailing emma.j.skinner@Garda.ie

Inspector Sorcha Fitzpatrick; Garda Emma Skinner; Chief Superintentent JP Quirke; Superintendent Pat Ward; Brian Carty, CEO of Wicklow Partnership; and Mary Fogarty from the Bray People at the launch fo the Wicklow Garda Youth Awards last Thursday.