Highland Heroes 2025: Secondary pupil shortlist revealed – VOTE NOW!
VOTE for your secondary school pupils by midnight on Monday, February 10!
Allan Munro, Fortrose Academy
A warm hearted teen from Cromarty has been shortlisted for spreading grit and goodwill on icy streets.
Allan Munro, now 16, began gritting local streets at age nine to help older and vulnerable residents get around safely in winter. Equipped with his own gritter and high-vis vest, he’s now a familiar face clearing pavements and access routes.
The fifth year student at Fortrose Academy is also a member of the Cromarty and District Community Council, ensuring young people’s voices are heard in local decision-making.
With 500 hours of volunteer work under his belt, Allan received a Saltire Award in 2024. The Saltire Awards are the Scottish Government’s way of recognising and rewarding the contribution and achievements of young volunteers.
Allan said: “I really enjoy doing my bit to keep people safe. It’s great to be out and about in the community.”
Claire Mackay, Dornoch Academy
Acting like a big sister and an enthusiastic role model for young people who need it is what drives Dornoch Academy student Claire Mackay to volunteer.
The 17-year-old has been shortlisted for secondary school pupil of the year.
Her nomination said: “Claire is an amazing young person who genuinely cares about the people she supports. Her spirit, attitude and enthusiasm shine through because she volunteers with compassion and willingness. She supports new students, helps out at homework club, nativity and still makes time for the local Brownie group.”
Claire said: “I have my heart set on a teaching career so I thought I’d start giving back to the community now. Being a good citizen makes me feel like I’ve achieved something at the end of the day; maybe I helped someone younger than me achieve a goal, or helped two children to solve an issue between them, either way that feeling is more than enough reward for being busy.”
Nativity was a recent highlight in Claire’s volunteering journey: “Some of the parents of wee ones at the local primary school couldn’t make it to the nativity so I told them I’d be there to watch and cheer them on. I felt proud of them. All kids deserve to feel happy and supported.”
Orlagh MacIver, Fortrose Academy
An ambitious teenager who wants to become an RAF pilot was ‘lost for words’ when she discovered she was being shortlisted for secondary school pupil of the year for her volunteering efforts.
Orlagh MacIver, who attends Fortrose Academy, recently won the Eric Liddell Award for her ‘outstanding contributions to youth work in Scotland’.
Her nomination explained: “Orlagh has made her community a better place to be for people of all ages. Her volunteering, leadership and passion for others shines through, particularly in her intergenerational work tackling isolation and loneliness in the community. Orlagh embodies passion, enthusiasm, selflessness and care for those around her.”
The sixteen year old has dedicated more than 1,000 hours of her time over the past few years.
Orlagh said: “I don't think I'm doing anything special. I used to go along to the youth cafe in Cromarty even when I was four years old, as a young person being part of the community and helping feels natural to me.”
She concluded: “Volunteering and getting to know more people ties the generations together and makes the community become one because people understand each other more and develop a different kind of respect; everyone benefits.”
Developing the Young Workforce Inverness & Central Highland (DYWICH) is sponsoring the award for secondary pupil.
Liz Fletcher, DYWICH programme lead, said: "At Developing the Young Workforce Inverness & Central Highland (DYWICH), we are immensely proud to sponsor the secondary pupil of the year category at the Highland Heroes 2025 awards. This category shines a light on the passion, dedication and resilience that young people across the Highlands demonstrate every day. Those that enter this award embody the spirit of perseverance and service, overcoming challenges to achieve remarkable success in education, sport and community support.
“At DYWICH, we have the privilege of working with many exceptional young people across 14 secondary schools in Inverness and Central Highland. Through our efforts to support their career choices and skill development, we see firsthand the powerful impact that volunteering has in shaping their futures. Volunteering not only equips them with invaluable skills but also prepares them to enter the world of work with confidence and purpose. We look forward to hearing about all the nominees and celebrating their achievements as well as the eventual winner of this accolade."
