Lucy's award a first for Orkney

Lucy Leech recently received her Platinum Youth Achievement Award - one of only 21 awarded in by Youth Scotland for 2021-22 and the first ever in Orkney!

Lucy was presented with her award by Mike Strang, Youth Scotland’s Chief Executive in a special surprise visit arranged by the Council’s Community Learning and Development Youth Services team.

Lucy, who now works with the Council as a youth worker in Stromness and as a support for learning assistant at Papdale Primary, says she was overjoyed to receive the award: “I couldn’t quite believe it!  It was a really nice feeling to know I’ve completed the youth achievement award journey, after all the years I’ve spent working on each level.”

The Youth Achievement Awards are aimed at recognising young people’s achievements, whether outside school (volunteering, sports, drama, music, or active citizenship) or within their school time. They’re recognised by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)  - in fact, Lucy’s Platinum award is a Level 7, equivalent to an Advanced Higher!

The Council’s Youth Services team (within Community Learning, Development and Employability Services) supports young people aged 14 and over through Youth Achievement Awards, guiding young people as they work their way up through four levels – bronze, silver, gold all the way up to platinum where they get involved in training and leading activities. Younger children can complete Youth Scotland’s Dynamic Youth award from age ten.

There is no set programme for the award. Instead, young people choose a challenge, plan it, complete it and then evaluate it. The scheme helps boost young people’s skills in leadership, creativity, research, team work, problem solving, evidencing their work, challenging themselves, confidence, and much more.

Lucy says working through her award has boosted her confidence immensely: “It’s really helped me to see that I can get through the challenging and nerve-wracking things. I have been able to improve my confidence through new experiences as a support for learning assistant at Papdale Primary School and as a senior youth worker at Stromness Junior Youth Club. I am confident now to lead and organise activities, and I feel the award has given me a good basis for supporting young people undertaking awards themselves. It is great to be a part of the positive impact the youth achievement awards have on young people and to see the young leaders and volunteers they become through youth work.”

Cheryl Rafferty is team manager for Youth Services at Orkney Islands Council. She said: “This is a massive achievement and we’re so proud of Lucy and proud to have been part of her journey - to now have her as a team member is an added bonus.

“Lucy has been involved in our youth clubs in Stromness since she was eight, and started working her way up through the wider achievement awards with our then-youth worker Maureen Herdman as soon as she could. It’s great to see her now come full circle and giving back to youth services by working in Stromness alongside our Area Youth and Family Learning Worker Karen Bevan, helping young people at the West Mainland Youth Achievement Groups go through the programme too.

“Youth work is all about supporting young people to fulfil their potential and their role as citizens. Lucy’s experience is living proof of how youth work can empower young people to better themselves and their community.”

Gwenda Shearer is Chair of the Council’s Education, Leisure and Housing Committee: “I offer warm congratulations to Lucy for reaching this highest level – it’s a reflection of a power of hard work by Lucy personally and a shining example of how youth work delivers so many benefits to young people and their communities.”

Image caption: Lucy is pictured here receiving her award from Mike Strang, Youth Scotland Chief Executive in a surprise in-person visit.