Celebrating youth achievement in Nairn

Young people of Nairn were given special praise by the Provost Laurie Fraser during a celebration event that took place at the Dunbar Golf Club on Thursday 10th June. The evening took the form of a small civic reception which young people and their families were invited along to recognise and celebrate achievement in their roles as volunteers in the community.

The event was organised by Volunteering Highland, Active Schools and Youth Development within The Highland Council. Skills Development Scotland were also involved and presented a group of young people with certificates in recognition of completing their Careers Essentials programme in the first stages in their journey into employment.

Young volunteers, of whom there are over 100 in Nairn, were presented with a certificate and a token of appreciation to reward them for generously donating their time and efforts in their roles as volunteers by Provost Laurie Fraser. The young people have been volunteering with organisations such as Active Schools, Sport Leaders, GirlguidingUK and Nairn Youth Development.

The awards being presented were Young Highlander and Millennium Volunteer. The former award is Highland specific where 12 - 16 year olds follow the Young Highlander Programme clocking up hours which are recognized in the form of Bronze, Silver and Gold. Millennium Volunteer is a nationally recognised achievement framework for 16-25 year olds.

Provost Laurie Fraser praised the young people for their work.  He said:  “I am delighted to have this opportunity to meet the young volunteers who do so much in their local community to help others.  To volunteer takes commitment and hard work but is very rewarding.  Engaging young people in achievement frameworks such as these awards gives us the chance to recognise young people as the volunteers of the future and the successful ceremony we held reinforces this fact.”
 
Special Awards on the night went to Nairn Academy pupils Mark Bain and Chloe Nicolaou for outstanding contributions to volunteering, having both already achieved the highest awards in the Millennium Volunteer Scheme.

Nairn Volunteer Centre is based at the Community Centre on Viewfield Drive. For more information on volunteering in your community please contact Volunteering Highland on 01667 453055.