The Dumfries and Galloway Youth Awards received over 100 nominations across all categories and, after a well contested judging process, the finalists for the Dumfries and Galloway Youth Awards have been revealed.
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 finalists in each award category are:
• Culture, Arts and Entertainment
o Adam Black – Dumfries
o Helena Cochrane – Wigtown
o Rose Benson – Castle Douglas
• Equality
o Better Lives Partnership, Stranraer – Stranraer
o Dumfries & Galloway Young Women’s Network – Regional
o Sophie McKeown – Closeburn
• Group of the Year
o Amazing Summer Camp Young Leaders – Regional
o Dumfries and Galloway Youth Council – Regional
o Peer Educators – Dumfries
• Sport
o Ivan Biriukov – Dumfries
o Matilda Brockley – Langholm
o Sean Allan – Castle Douglas
• Unsung Hero
o Chelsay McDill – Dumfries
o Logan Wilson – Leswalt
o Mae Fisher – Dumfries
• Young Enterprise & Business
o Hamish Bell – Dumfries
o Maeve Reekie – Dumfries
o Stranraer Skate Park Project – Stranraer
• Young Change Maker
o Finlay Anderson – Newton Stewart
o Mia Grey – Sanquhar
o Naomi Scott – Ecclefechan
• Young Volunteer
o Dylan Guenther – Castle Douglas
o Lily Furnass – Dumfries
o Brandon Paterson – Stranraer
• Youth Worker of the Year (Paid)
o Alison Telfer – CAMHS
o Julie Ann Lyons – LGBT Youth Scotland
o Lisa Martin – Youth Work Service (Wigtownshire)
• Youth Worker of the Year (Volunteer)
o Angie Gilmour – Dumfries
o Luke Struthers – Dalbeattie
o Paula Kirkpatrick – Dumfries
Councillor Ian Blake, Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Communities Committee said: “We received an extremely high number of quality nominations for this year’s awards. All the nominations showcased the fantastic achievements of young people from across Dumfries and Galloway. Those shortlisted as finalists are all deserving of an award, and I look forward to the ceremony on 23 November when the winners will be announced.”
Finlay Anderson, Chairperson of Dumfries and Galloway Youth Council said: “The Dumfries and Galloway Youth Awards provides us with a platform to celebrate the fantastic achievements of young people from Dumfries and Galloway over the last 12 months. All nominations clearly showed the hard work and dedication of young people in 2023. I would also like to thank 10,000 Voices and the National Lottery for fully funding the awards.”
This year the annual awards evening will once again take place at Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries on Thursday 23 November and will focus on celebrating the amazing achievements of young people aged 12–25 in Dumfries and 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.
Picture: Last year’s winners and nominees.