In 2006 we launched the very first annual Young Scot Awards and they continue to grow from strength to strength. The Young Scot Awards are designed to recognise the achievements of ordinary young people throughout Scotland who make a difference to their community and country. There are thirteen categories against which a young person or group of young people can be nominated and three nominees from each category are shortlisted for attendance at the Awards ceremony. The event itself is a glitzy affair designed to honour the young people in the same way that Hollywood celebrities are treated throughout the awards season – with a red carpet, a fancy sit down dinner, live music and entertainment and their names in lights. Previous themes for the Awards were Moulin Rouge,Mardi Gras, and an urban-style event featuring breakdancing, skate-boarding, BMX bikers and roller-bladers. Our special guests have included nominees Nicola Benedetti, Amy Macdonald and Leon Jackosn; the cast of River City; premiership footballers; Hollyoaks’ Gemma Atkinson, Leah Hackett and Zoe Lister; and singing sensations from ITV’s The X-Factor as well as former First Minister Jack McConnell, current First Minister Alex Slamond and numerous representatives of the voluntary, statutory and private sectors. Besides honouring deserving young people, the Awards also attempt to combat negative stereotypes used to portray young people in the media through coverage in both the Sunday Mail and numerous local and trade media forms. You can read about the Young Scot awards 2010 at www.youngscot.org/awards or visit www.youngscotawards.co.uk For more information please contact Lisa Di Mascio, External Relations Officer at lisad@youngscot.org |