Glittering night for young stars

Published on Monday 28 November 2005 12:33

THE "Oscars" came to Edinburgh last night in recognition of the award-winning real-life performances of hundreds of children and young people across the city.

Guests were given the red carpet treatment with the "paparazzi"snapping them as they arrived at the Hub on Castlehill for the Youngedinburgh Evening News awards ceremony. The glittering event highlighted the amazing achievements of people aged 11 to 21 from all walks of life.

Elvis impersonators showed the 180 adults and youngsters to their seats, while Hibs manager Tony Mowbray and Edinburgh's panto stars Allan Stewart and Andy Gray were among the guest presenters.

But it was the young people who were the real stars of the show. Whether saving a stranger's life, caring for a sick relative or beating the odds to excel at sports, the 11 young winners proved they deserved the applause and their glass trophies.

Host Forth One DJ and Evening News columnist Grant Stott introduced Edinburgh's education chief, Rev Ewan Aitken, who opened the event by calling for a round of applause for all of the 400-plus young people nominated.

He said it was "brilliant to be here again" and told the audience that Edinburgh was making great steps towards becoming the most youth friendly city in Europe.

Launching a new Youth Friendly Service award for adults in the city, he said he hoped that it would "get rid of the most horrible sign in Edinburgh, 'Only two teenagers allowed'."

The awards night was launched last year by the Evening News in association with Youngedinburgh, Edinburgh City Council's youth services group.

There were eight key award categories this year, including a new Heart of Gold award, plus two specialist awards, chosen from the same eight categories, the Lord Provost Peer Award and Evening News Editor's Award. Presenting the Evening News award to young carer Dina Wallace, 11, on behalf of Editor John McLellan, Jim Morrison, Evening

News Senior Assistant Editor, said: "We at the Evening News are proud of Edinburgh's young people.

"This award goes to a young person who was shortlisted for Unsung Heroine. She not onlyhelps care for her mum, brother and sister, she also saved them from a fire at home. She showed bravery again in the summer when she agreed to feature in the Evening News highlighting the position of young carers."

THE ROLL OF HONOUR

The Lord Provost's Peer Award Give Youth a Chance - Streetwork UK

Spending hundreds of hours unpaid renovating a derelict flat and volunteering to pack shoppers' bags at a supermarket to cover the cost of materials isn't everyone's ideal pastime. But 26 Give Youth a Chance teenagers aged 13 and 18 won the Lord Provost's Peer Award after doing just that.

Their efforts have turned the rundown property in Moredun into an office, meeting place and childrens' playroom for the community. Group member Stephanie Downie, 16, of Double Hedges Park, Liberton, said: "I am really surprised. It's great to get the award. We all used to hang about outside in South Edinburgh and then [youth workers from] Give Youth a Chance came to see us and took us to the community flat and we used to meet there, and then we decided to do it up."

Visual and Performing Arts The Melody Makers - The BIG Project, Broomhouse

Controversial rapper Eminem inspired children in this community youth group to write and record a song to combat bullying. Eleven to 13 year olds in the group - which giveschildren new opportunities to try different activities - wrote, performed and recorded their own songs, including anti-bullying rap Don't Stand On Your Own at music workshops during the summer.

Rebecca Quinn, 11, Broomhouse Square, who goes to Broomhouse Primary School, said: "Its really good. We've been writing songs about bullying and recorded them. I really enjoyed it."

Heart of Gold - Nicola Hinks

Schoolgirl Nicola Hinks was shocked to even be nominated for the new Heart of Gold award - never dreaming she might win it as well. The 17 year old Queensferry High School pupil was put forward by her English teacher Maureen Fowler who was impressed by how Nicola helped to care for her mum Carol, who was diagnosed with MS nine years ago.

The teacher praised Nicola's patience, helpfulness, courage and modesty.

Nicola, who lives with her parents and 14 year old brother in South Queensferry, said: "This is really unexpected. My teacher knew about my mum and she nominated me because I am still happy and smiling all the time. Its just something you have to deal with."

Environmental Action Access to the Countryside Group - Wester Hailes Youth Agency

"I am so happy I am going to cry. That was 18-year-old Kayleigh Simmons' reaction when she heard the countryside access group had won the environmental award. Kayleigh, a sales assistant, of Dumbryden Road, Wester Hailes, was one of five 18-year-olds from west Edinburgh who joined the group aged just 13, learning about practical conservation such as treeplanting.

She is now training to become a paid youth worker to pass on her knowledge and skills to young children. She said: "It's so exciting. We've never won anything like this before. We're not really noticed for what we do normally, so this is really nice.":

*Sporting Achievement Kayleigh Ashall and Alan Gray are both world champions in their sports. So judges decided they both deserved to win. Broughton High School pupil Alan, 16, overcame cerebral palsy to win seven golds and one silver medal for swimming in the British Championships, plus a further two gold and three bronze medals representing Scotland at the World Cerebral Palsy Games in America.

Alan, of Forth View Road, Blackhall, said: "I am honoured to get this award. It shows how a lot of hard work pays off."

Fifteen-year-old Kayleigh, a secretary from Gilmerton Dykes Drive, Gilmerton, is a UK champion, European champion, and a World indoor and outdoor champion in field archery for her age group, holding two world and three European records.

Despite a hectic training and competing schedule she finds the time to coach younger members of the Drum Field Archers Club in Edinburgh. She said: "This is great and unexpected. I was here last year but didn't win anything and there are so many other people this year who have done so many great things as well."

The Evening News Editor's Award - Dina Wallace

Eleven-year-old Dina put her head in her hands when she realised she was the winner last night. Her mum Leah suffers from chronic ill health, and after leaving her children's violent father four years ago, she had no partner to help out. So from the age of seven Dina has been helping to care for not only her mum but also her younger sister Charlie-Hannah, five, and younger brother Ewan, six. And when fire struck the family's home in 2002, it was Dina, then only eight, who helped lead her family to safety. Dina said: "I was so embarrassed. I didn't think it would be me! I hope it will help other

young carers."

Volunteering - Elaine Stirling

After five years training with the Edinburgh Airport Young Firefighters, Elaine Stirling now teaches other cadets the same skills she has learned. The 18-year-old from Beechwood Park, Uphall Station, showed strong commitment to the volunteer work, learning to put out mock fires and undergo drills. The airport check-in worker said: "I just love what I do. I did not expect this award at all."

Enterprise and Consumer Awareness Business Management - Students at St Augustine's High School

When eight standard grade business studies pupils at St Augustine's High School decided to produce hundreds of charity bands their goal was to put their enterprise project work to good use helping the victims of the devastating Boxing Day tsunami.

The teenagers raised around GBP 750 for the Asian Tsunami appeal by making 2500 light-blue bands and selling them at 20 schools. Their "Helping Hands" initiative prompted their teacher Graeme Easton to nominate them for the award.

Pupil Kirsten McKellar, 15, of South Queensferry, said: "We did it for charity because the tsunami had just happened, it wasn't about getting an award. It's really weird winning, but good too."

Unsung Hero - David Wright

When David Wright spotted an old man collapsed on an unlit path as he walked home one evening in November, the quick-thinking teenager took out his mobile phone to use its light to check whether the pensioner was alive. Finding him alive but apparently dazed, David ran to nearby Ferry Road and where he flagged down a passing police car and brought officers back before helping them carry the man to his home nearby. Luckily the pensioner did not need any treatment but police who nominated David believe that the youth's swift action was potentially lifesaving.

Modest Trinity Academy pupil David, 15, from Granton Gardens, Granton, said after receiving his award: "I'm a bit shaky. I can't believe it. I don't feel like a hero, I just felt I did the right thing."

Community Involvement - North Edinburgh Young Person's Forum

Sean Deans was so pleased that the forum won the award he started phoning people on his mobile straight after receiving it, yelling: "We've won!" The 20-year-old forum spokesman and youth worker, of Ferry Road, Drylaw, was among ten members aged 16 to 20, who organised the first North Edinburgh Conference for Young People. It was aimed at encouraging around 100 of their peers to help shape decisions about community safety issues and school meals.

He said: "We never expected to win it, it's great. A lot of hard work went into the conference and we're working on the issues now with more young people from the conference."

Youth Friendly Service - Diane Yule and Graham Budd - Staff at Ratho Library

Libraries used to be limited to borrowing books. But thanks to library officer Diane and library assistant Graham, both 27, Ratho Library is different. The pair were nominated by young people in Ratho after turning the library into a meeting place for young people, arranging puzzle and quiz nights and helping them fill in job applications. Graham said: "We're shocked and very happy. We started organising things because there is nothing much else for young people to do here."