Dornoch pupil named first male winner of Clan Sutherland ‘Young Citizen’ award
Fourteen-year-old Sonny Newman, an S3 volunteer from Dornoch Academy, has become the first boy to win the Clan Sutherland Young Citizen of the Year award.
The award, now in its sixth year, recognises young people aged 12 to 14 in Sutherland for their commitment and inspiring achievements.
Sonny attended a special ceremony at Dunrobin Castle with his foster parents, Mike and Helen Newman, who were granted a year’s membership to the Clan Sutherland Society in Scotland (CSSS).
At the event, Mark Sutherland-Fisher, president of the society, gave a warm and welcoming address.
“This is a great thrill for us for two reasons, one because it is always a great thrill to have a young person recognised from across Sutherland, and two, because Sonny is the first male recipient [of the award] and only the second Dornoch Academy recipient, so he is a first.
“We are recognising you Sonny because of the work you have been doing in the Culrain community and we have seen proof.”
The winners are selected by the council of the Clan Sutherland Society in Scotland, whose members are based around the world including Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the United States, England, France, Belgium and Scotland.
Judges viewed all the nominees and were unanimous in their decision to name Sonny as this year’s winner.
A well-known member of the Culrain community due to his volunteer work, Sonny joined a local team to maintain the forest trails at Carbisdale, volunteering many weekends on seven-hour workdays cutting back vegetation and rebuilding paths.
He also cleared the footpath from Culrain to Invershin without assistance, removing nettles, bracken and brambles to complete the job in only five days.
He has also helped the community hall committee set up events, dismantle the marquee, pick up litter, and install the village Christmas tree lights, as well as supporting the maintenance of the village hall.
Lizzie (Elizabeth) Costin presented Sonny with a £150 Amazon voucher on behalf of her father, the Earl of Sutherland.
Sonny, who hopes to work in the film industry after school, said he was surprised to receive the honour.
“I was really shocked to hear I had won the award, I did not expect it,” he said.
George Charge, chairman of the Culrain Hall Committee, who nominated Sonny for the award, said: “Sonny, as a young man working with the Culrain community, has put in such commitment; not just the hall committee but everybody in the Culrain area is familiar with him.
“He is an example to all young people as to what you can do to help your community and he is an inspiration to the adults who he works alongside because we see in him a hard-working uncomplaining young man who is motivated to do the best for others, and this inspires us on behalf of the community – and I would like to say thank you to him.”
Mr Charge was also presented with a £150 cheque for the Culrain Hall Committee, which was chosen by Sonny as the local cause he wished to support with half of his prize money.