Young unsung heroes

Jun 19 2008 by Sandra Walls

YOUNG volunteers from schools and volunteer organisations in North Lanarkshire were recognised at an awards ceremony hosted by the Volunteer Centre North Lanarkshire, during Volunteers Week.

Volunteers Week is aimed at recognising, rewarding and celebrating the good work done by millions of individuals, teams and organisations across the UK.

This year, the Volunteer Centre themed their week’s festivities on celebrating and rewarding young volunteers.

The presentation, which took place at the centre’s new Citizenship Centre, recognised more than 80 young people who had achieved an MV Award, part of a national programme in Scotland which certificates young people aged 16-25 who give time to volunteering.

MV certificates Awards are made at 50, 100 and 200 hours volunteering, with the 200-hour award signed by First Minister Alex Salmond.

Among those recognised on the night were pupils from Brannock High School, Newarthill, and Taylor High School, New Stevenston, for giving time to helping younger pupils improve reading skills, prefect duties, and the delivery of after-school activities and sports clubs.

Pupils were presented with their MV Awards by Thomas Curley, Provost of North Lanarkshire Council.

Groups of volunteers from North Lanarkshire Active Schools, Reeltime Music, North Lanarkshire Young People’s Panel, Youth Buzz, and several other organisations were also presented with MV Awards.

Volunteers from Youth Buzz and youth council gave a presentation on how they had been working to improve opportunities for young people in North Lanarkshire.

Craig Russell, youth development worker at the Volunteer Centre, said: “We were delighted to highlight youth volunteering and the on-going effort made by volunteers within schools and other youth and volunteer organisations, which too often goes unnoticed.

“We calculated that the people in the room had completed approximately 20,000 hours of volunteering over the last year with over 100 guests attending in our recently refurbished Citizenship Centre.”

For more information about volunteering or in the MV Awards programme, contact the Volunteer Centre on 01698 358866, or e-mail: dutyofficer@nlvda.org

You can also download MV Awards registration forms by visiting www.volunteernorthlanarkshire.org.uk