PICTURES: Awards aplenty for Tain's 'amazing' youth volunteers
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An "amazing" group of youth volunteers have been rewarded for their efforts at this year's Tain & District Youth Cafe - YMCA awards ceremony.
The YMCA group held their annual youth achievements awards night on March 23, with a total of 19 youngsters recognised for their work.
18 Saltire awards, ranging from 10 hours to 100 hours, were handed out in recognition of a total of 968 hours of volunteer work for 18 different local organisations.
Also, for the first time at Tain YMCA, the group were able to present five deserving individuals with Dynamic Youth Awards.
Dynamic Youth Award winners Charlie Humble, Oliwier Porozynski and Harvey Whittock carried out a project of learning how to work in the YMCA kitchen. They also attended twice-weekly drop-in sessions and learned how to make hamburgers, pizza, chocolate brownies.
They decorated sponge cakes, cooked hot dogs, chips and nuggets, tasted them and also served up to their peers.
Olivia and Louie Macleod were also recognised with a Dynamic Youth Award for helping a neighbour look after their dog during lockdown. In their care, the dog was fed, walked, taught tricks, bathed, and even came along to their on-tour drop-in sessions in Tain, Edderton, Inver and Balintore as the Tain YMCA mascot.
The Dynamic Youth Awards, run by Youth Scotland, are designed to offer recognition and accreditation for young peoples’ achievements, such as volunteering.
They are externally quality assured by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and are credit rated on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) where they sit at Level 3.
Fourteen deserving youngsters collected Saltire awards, awarded through the Scottish Government rewards initiative to celebrate, recognise and reward the commitment, contribution and achievements of young volunteers in Scotland.
They were: Leona Afrin, Ryley Anderson, Callum Deeth, Ellie Hutton, Leanne Lothian, Cora MacAngus, Leia Matheson, Abi Morrison, Hannah Morrison, Jazzy Nicholson, Kenna Richardson, Danielle Ritchie, Jordan Ross and Keith Ross.
Youth coordinator Kats Macleod said: "We are very pleased for this most amazing group of individuals. It is great to see the work they have done, and continue to do, recognised and celebrated with Saltire and Dynamic Youth awards.
"It has been such a pleasure getting to know them all. My message to them is to 'keep being you and don’t let anyone stop your stars from shining'. They can and will do whatever they put your minds to.
"We would like to say a huge thanks to Joanie Whiteford, HM Lord-Lieutenant, Ross and Cromarty for joining us on this special occasion and presenting the awards to all of our hard working youth."
Ms Whiteford was full of praise for the youngsters.
"I was delighted to be invited by Kats Macleod, the awards co-ordinator of Tain & District Youth Cafe - YMCA to present certificates to some very deserving youngsters in recognition of their amazing volunteering hours in a wide range of skills undertaken within the Saltire and Dynamic Youth Awards.
"I am so proud of these young people who live in Ross and Cromarty lieutenancy."
