Celebrating the best
A total of 24 finalists attended the 2018 Argyll and Bute Youth Awards held earlier this year. The winners were as follows: Duke of Edinburgh Outstanding Achievement Award:
Ellen Kennedy, Mull
In 2012 Ellen began her DofE Award journey at Tobermory High School on Mull. She faced significant challenges which included having Additional Support Needs.
Ellen completed her Bronze, Silver and Gold awards over a five year period. Ellen now attends Argyll College in Oban, it takes her two ferries, a bus and a taxi just to get to college each day. Ellen’s DofE involvement continues as an ambassador for the award at Tobermory High School where she is an inspiration to all. Unsung Hero Award:
Keira Rutherford, Rothesay
Kiera has dedicated her time to raising money for good causes. Over the last seven years Keira has raised over £10,000 for charities including Erskine, the British Heart Foundation and Yorkhill Children’s Charity as well as various local charities. Youth Entrepreneur Award:
Chris Berrall, Helensburgh and Lomond
Chris started a traineeship at Centre 81 in 2016 and worked on running the 40 bed hostel based within the centre. When his placement ended he knew the loss of his role would severely impact on the small team at the centre and so chose to volunteer five days a week, investing over 500 hours over a six month period. Youth Volunteering Award:
Alexander Anderson, Mull
Whilst currently studying for his Highers, Alexander also has the responsibility of being a Senior Prefect and is actively involved in the life of the school, attending Prefect meetings, School Council Meetings and he is a keen sportsman. Alongside school, Alexander also juggles his duties as a Volunteer Lifeboat Crew Member with the RNLI. As the youngest member at 17, he has impressed his fellow crew members with the effort and commitment he puts in to any task he is given, becoming a highly respected member of the crew in the short time he has been there. Health and Wellbeing:
Ciaran MacKenzie, Helensburgh
After being inspired to sign up at school, Ciaran donated bone marrow to help save a complete stranger’s life, which involved a lot of medical tests and travelling down to London. Since his operation he has helped raise awareness of the Anthony Nolan Trust, running the Great North Run in aid of the charity and going back to his old school Hermitage Academy to talk to pupils. Youth Environment Award:
HELP community Taskforce, Dunoon
HELP Community Taskforce is a group of young people who learn new skills, gain work experience and qualifications, while making environmental improvements within their local community. Citizenship Award:
Jamie Murray MSYP, Rothesay
Jamie has been a member of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP) for three years after being re-elected for a second term. He was one of two MSYP’s in the whole of Scotland chosen to attend the 8th Commonwealth Youth Parliament sitting in Victoria, British Columbia. Jamie was elected as a trustee of the SYP board and he won an SYP award for Communicator of the Year due to his work as head of the Creative Communications Team. Youth Arts Award:
Into the Light – Beth Qualter and Holly Smith, Mid Argyll
Holly and Beth were frustrated that there was nowhere for young artists in Argyll to exhibit their work. They decided to do something about this, and organised Into the Light, an exhibition for artists under 25, living in Argyll and Bute. They successfully ran the show in some farm buildings near Lochgilphead in September 2017. To raise funds they asked established artists to contribute postcards for a lucky dip. To engage younger artists they ran workshops in local primary schools. Sporting Award:
Cliona and Nuala McCheyne, Dunoon
At 16 Cliona is the current Scottish under 17’s Junior Hill Running League Champion, and is the youngest girl to have climbed all of Scotland’s 282 Munros, which she completed at age 10 with her sister. Cliona has been a member of Inverclyde Athletic Club for 5 years. In 2017 she reached the under 17’s finals of the 1,500m at the West of Scotland Championships, the Scottish Athletics Association Championships and the Scottish Schools Championships.
Councillor Aileen Morton, who leads Argyll and Bute Council said at the awards ceremony: ‘We have so much to be proud of in Argyll and Bute and our young people are a huge part of that. That’s why it’s a real pleasure to be able to recognise the contribution that they make to life in our communities through the Argyll and Bute Awards 2018.
‘These awards are much more than a way of highlighting the many achievements and successes of Argyll and Bute’s young people. They tell our young people that they matter – that what they do makes a difference to life in Argyll and Bute.’