Two memorial awards honouring the lives of inspirational young people were awarded for the first time at a popular youth awards ceremony.
Eilish Herron and Ferran Hart – who won awards in 2013 and 2014 – have been commemorated by having their awards named after them.
The Ferran Hart Young Artist of the Year award and the Eilish Herron Young Sports Person of the Year award were awarded at the fifth Positive About Youth awards in Paisley Town Hall.
Over two hundred young people turned out to the awards ceremony – run by Renfrewshire Youth Voice – to celebrate the outstanding work and achievement of young people in Renfrewshire.
The event also saw the unveiling of new youth volunteering scheme – Give to Get –with young people advocating the rewarding opportunities that benefit young people’s career aspirations and leisure interests.
The winners from each of the six categories were:
Ferran Hart Young Artist of the Year (sponsored by Renfrewshire Leisure) – Lana Montgomery
Young Carer of the Year (sponsored by Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership) – Shannon Robertson
Unsung Hero Award (sponsored by Renfrewshire Council Youth Services) – Catherine Pope
Eilish Herron Young Sports Person of the Year (sponsored by Engage Renfrewshire) – Daryn Black
Young Citizen of the Year (sponsored by Young Scot) – Janine Carter
Youth Project of the Year (sponsored by Scottish Youth Parliament) – Hearth Lives Linwood High
Positive About Youth is supported by Renfrewshire Council along with Erskine Music and Media Studios and pupils from Gleniffer High School, who provided sound, lighting and catering at the event.
Renfrewshire Council Leader Mark Macmillan said: “Celebrating the early achievements of young people in Renfrewshire and the positive impacts they have on their communities is vital. Young people have a great potential to succeed and promoting this good work is helping to build a positive image of young people in the area.
“Two young people who have been a part of this building momentum are Eilish Herron and Ferran Hart, who sadly passed away last year. Their memory lives on in the two awards they previously won being renamed in their honour.
“Many young people across Renfrewshire freely give up their time to volunteer in local youth forums, as sport coaches and in the community so it was great to see the new youth volunteering scheme Give to Get being positively received at the awards ceremony.
“Renfrewshire Council is proud to support the Positive About Youth awards, which encourages young people to forge ahead with their ambitions and supporting them to participate with the wider community. The winners and runners-up of this year’s awards should be proud of their own personal achievements.”
Renfrewshire Youth Voice’s chairperson, Emma Eck, said: “Having a night dedicated to young people that recognises their talents, commitment and contribution to our community is really important. Young people have so much to offer and they truly deserve this recognition.”
Young people aged 12-25 can find out more about local youth groups and the youth forums by contacting John Kennedy, Youth Services Officer, on 0141 889 1110.
For more information on Give to Get, visit www.young.scot/give-to-get.