The Youth Awards recognise the incredible achievements, journeys and stories of young people and youth organisations in Dumfries and Galloway.
The awards provide a platform to celebrate achievements, share experiences and showcase the amazing talents and contribution of young people in our local communities the length and breadth of our region.
The finalists in each award category are:
Culture, Arts and Entertainment
- Aiden Matthews, Callum Brock, Jamie Morrison ‘Out of Focus’ – Upper Nithsdale
- Guild of Players Youth Theatre – NT Connections Project – Nithsdale
- Tiffany Cairns-Smith – Annandale and Eskdale
- Twenty More Pilots Tribute Band (Jayden and Tom) – Nithsdale
Equality and Diversity
- Listen2Us Youth Advocacy Group – Regionwide
- Welcoming Hands – Bringing Us Together (Freya Latta and Poppy Kemp) – Stewartry
- Naomi Scott – Annandale and Eskdale
Group of the Year
- S6 Buddies Douglas Ewart High School – Wigtownshire
- Hen’s Shed – Annandale and Eskdale
- NHS Dumfries and Galloway Youth Health Advisory Forum - Regionwide
Sport
- Anastasiya YaoYao – Nithsdale
- Aoiffion McVittie Brangan – Annandale and Eskdale
- Logan Speirs – Wigtownshire
Young Enterprise and Business
- Dumfries and Galloway's Young Women's Network – Regionwide
- Stewartry Steering Group – Stewartry
Young Volunteer
- Maisie Brown – Upper Nithsdale
- Henley Kirk – Wigtownshire
- Alexander Woodhouse – Annandale and Eskdale
- Luke Graham – Annandale and Eskdale
Youth Worker of the Year (Paid)
- Erin Thomson – Wigtownshire
- Sue Curtis – Stewartry
- Luke Tommie – Regionwide
Youth Worker of the Year (Volunteer)
- Eris Oxenfree – Regionwide
- Rebecca Humes – Annandale and Eskdale
- Sam Kerr – Nithsdale
Lifetime Achievement Award
- Rosann Whannel
Councillor Tracey Little, Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Education, Skills and Community Wellbeing Committee said:
“We received an overwhelming number of quality nominations for this year’s awards. Each nomination showcased the extraordinary accomplishments of young people and groups from all over Dumfries and Galloway. The finalists selected truly deserve recognition, and I am looking forward to the ceremony on 19 November when winners will be revealed.”
This year the annual awards evening will once again take place at Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries on Thursday 19 November and will focus on celebrating the amazing achievements of young people aged 12-25 in Dumfries & Galloway over the last 12 months. The evening promises to be an excellent celebration of the successes and achievements of our young people, with exciting entertainment by local young people and of course the main awards ceremony.
Councillor George Jamieson, Vice-Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Education, Skills and Community Wellbeing Committee said:
“I am delighted to hear the stories and experiences of the young finalists at this year’s Dumfries and Galloway Youth Awards. Young people are making a significant impact in our communities, towns and villages throughout Dumfries and Galloway giving their time and skills back into their communities. I want to offer my congratulations to all the finalists this year and acknowledge the hard work of all young people across our region.”
The Dumfries and Galloway Youth Awards are fully funded by Young Gamechangers Fund.