Youth volunteer awards

THE WINNERS of the sixth Shetland Youth Volunteer Awards were announced at a special event in Lerwick this week.

Cunningsburgh and District Agricultural Show won the organisation of the year award, beating three other nominees: Lerwick District Girl Guiding, OPEN Peer Education Project and Shetland Youth Services.

Sandwick Youth Club Dream came out on top of the “One Team” category, ahead of Girl Guiding Shetland Young Leaders and Shetland Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament.

Finally Toby Sandison was voted individual volunteer of the year, with Debbie Wynn and Thomas Hawick shortlisted.

Sandison said volunteering had been a life changing experience he would encourage anyone leaving school to stay or get involved in.

Shetland youth volunteering development worker Neil Pearson said: “I am over the moon at the high standard set by nominees this year.

“The judges really had a difficult task to choose this year’s winners, which demonstrates just how valuable each and every young volunteer is to our community.

“Every nominee was a potential winner and we hope that young people and the organisations for which they volunteer around Shetland will be inspired by some of the stories from this year’s awards.”