Issued: 13 December 2006
Angus Five Take Platinum Youth Awards
Five young people in Angus have achieved platinum awards, the highest level in the national Youth Achievement Awards. (AWARDS presentation tonight 7pm, 13 December 2006, Angus Volunteer Centre, Guthrie Port, Arbroath)
Once again Angus’ young people are leading from the front with only eight other platinum awards granted across the whole of Scotland during the award schemes nine year history, and none before in Tayside.
The famous five are Kymberley Barbour (18), Claire-Louise Dickerson (18), Samantha Hattle (18), Rachel McCullough (17) and Christopher Smith (17). They were supported and encouraged through the award process by Angus Council’s Community Learning and Development Service.
The Youth Achievement Awards are nationally accredited - the platinum award is worth 70 points in the university scoring system - and formally recognise the value of existing informal learning and youth work activities.
Speaking at the awards presentation Angus Provost Bill Middleton said: “Our five platinum award winners are a credit to the county and themselves. At a time when young people are frequently negatively portrayed it is a delight to have the opportunity to recognise the talent and dedication of young citizens.”
Each of the five Angus participants say they have gained valuable skills through their involvement with the awards scheme which will help them as they progress into further and higher education and employment.
To gain their Platinum awards the young people did over 60 hours of training to become drama tutors.
They then planned and delivered over 80 hours of drama workshops for young people during work experience placements at Warddykes Youth Club and The Oasis drop-in, culminating in shows at the primary school and the Abbey Theatre.
As they progressed their work was assessed by their peers, their fellow team members, before being submitted for formal external accreditation by the national awards body.
Provost Middleton commented on the impact the awards process had had on the five participants saying: “Our winners have increased their confidence and used it to pass on their newly acquired skills to other young people. They are now more assured about taking the initiative, to make things happen. These are vital attributes for our future employees, leaders and decision makers.
“The awards scheme encourages participants to work as a team, supporting each other with honest assessment and reflection. As our five participants have discovered the awards have helped them gain an insight into what they would like to achieve in the future and identify what skills they need to achieve it.”
Provost Middleton congratulated each of the winners saying: “This is a huge achievement for all five participants, all of whom have given as much as they have gained. I am confident they will not let the experience end here.”
Platinum winner Samantha Hattle said: “There’s no way I thought I’d ever be able to do this. I’ve gained so much confidence through doing the award. I was quite shy before I did this and now I can speak in front of a room full of people.”
Commenting on her achievement Claire Dickerson said: “I thought it would be exciting and rewarding and it was. I managed to boost my confidence and my team working, organisation, planning and decision making skills. I also had a great time and lots of fun.
“I am hoping to use the award when filling out my university application and will be putting it on my CV to show all the hard work that I have done.”
Christopher Smith said of his experience: “I’m very proud about deciding to go ahead with the award scheme as I was able to give my skills and experiences to younger people to help them progress their drama skills.
“The award scheme was very rewarding not just in the sense that you have gained an award but gaining confidence in myself as a person, learning how to be organised with what you are doing and also working as part of a team to come up with a final product that we are all happy with.
“I am applying to university next year and I have found out that the award is worth 70 points in the university scoring system. The award has also given me skills to progress in later life.”