New recognition for youth awards milestones

Orkney Islands Council has teamed up with the Pickaquoy Centre and Stromness Swimming Pool to reward young people completing accredited awards through youth work in the county, including Dynamic Youth and Youth Achievement.

Starting this month, free cinema tickets and swim passes will be presented to local young people who’ve reached a milestone in either their Dynamic Youth or Youth Achievement award, in recognition of their hard work and commitment to fundraising and community work.

The ‘Dynamic Youth’ scheme (for 10-14 year olds) and ‘Youth Achievement Awards’ (for 14-25 year olds) are accredited by Youth Scotland, are recognised by the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) and Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework as being equivalent to National 4, National 5 and Higher qualifications, and are listed on formal exam results.

Young people work on activities such as fundraising and volunteering which benefit the community and contribute to their own personal development.

The completed award portfolios are scrutinised at regular moderator meetings in central Scotland. In August, 12 young people’s folders passed at bronze, silver and gold levels and were held up as exemplary models across Scotland.

Orkney Islands Council’s Community Learning and Development service team supports young people through the Awards in Orkney. Team Leader, Kerry Spence, who assesses their portfolios locally before they go south for external moderation, said: “Firstly I would like to congratulate all the Young People to have been awarded their Youth Achievement Awards following the recent moderation.

“These accredited Youth Awards are no small undertaking – they require commitment and persistence and they deliver great benefits for both young people and their communities.

“We hope that the cinema and swimming pass rewards will recognise the effort these young folk put in but also that it acts as an incentive for more young people to get involved in their community and to take up an accredited Youth Award here in Orkney”.

Pickaquoy Centre Marketing Officer, Kimberley Wood, said “We’re delighted to be doing our bit to encourage young people completing accredited Youth Awards in Orkney.

“We also see this as an opportunity to encourage young people into local sports facilities and to take part in more physical activity as, unless they are involved with a club, rates of physical activity tends to tail off throughout adolescence.”

Garry Burton, OIC’s Sport and Leisure Manager, said “This is an excellent opportunity for young people to be recognised for the volunteering commitment that they are doing in their communities.

“I am delighted to extend these free passes to young people for use in Stromness Swimming Pool as well as the Pickaquoy Centre, to encourage more of the young people to access pool facilities in the West Mainland also.”

There are eight organisations across Orkney who can help young people plan and record their work – Orkney Youth Cafe, Orkney College, Papdale Halls of Residence, KGS, Stromness Academy, the Connect Project, and the East Mainland and West Mainland Youth Achievement Groups (clubs led by Orkney Islands Council Youth Work staff to support young people through their Awards.

To find out more and get involved, visit the CLD page on the Council website, or contact the Council’s CLD team on 01856873535 extension 2425.