185 young people between the age of 12 and 25 received a total of 335 certificates between them recognising over 22,500 hours of volunteering they had collectively taken part in with 70 different local groups, schools and organisations.
The Saltire Awards, a well-established national awards scheme, are designed to recognise and reward the commitment young people make to volunteering in their community. The awards, locally managed by us at Voluntary Action Shetland (VAS), recognise milestones of 10, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 500 hours of time spent volunteering.
The Shetland Youth Voice Committee supported the delivery of the ceremony this year, with Beenie-Ann Wood (chair, right) and Kali Mackenzie-Thomson (secretary, left) opening the ceremony with a speech about the power of young people.
“It’s an honour to be here today to celebrate the incredible work so many young people are making through volunteering, giving up their time to make a positive difference.” “Volunteering can have a life-changing effect on our growth as young people and we want everyone to go home tonight knowing and truly believing that you are more than capable of positive change, and that your ideas and views are valued.”
Their speech seamlessly connected to the event being held on ‘Power of Youth’ day (3rd June) as part of national Volunteers’ Week (2nd-8th June).
Kali and Beenie-Ann were joined by their fellow committee members Erin Watt and Ava Williamson in presenting certificates throughout the evening.
The variety of volunteering and the spread across Shetland was higher than usual, with young people supporting their local clubs and communities all the way from the South Mainland Swimming Club to the Uyeasound Hall.
The event was concluded with the presentation of the Summit Awards, the most prestigious Saltire award which is only achieved by volunteers who have been nominated by their supervisors for making an outstanding contribution to volunteering.
Volunteers receiving this accolade were the Youth Voice Committee, Sophie Johnson from Open Door Drama, Bertie Summers MSYP, Becca McArthur from COPE Ltd. and Vaila Thompson from Shetland Army Cadets.
Vaila, who has dedicated over 1000 hours to her many voluntary roles, closed the night by sharing her own volunteering story so far.
She reflected on her 10-year old self who felt supported by older youth volunteers when attending ballet classes and soon moving on to give back to help younger dancers.
In regards of her role at Shetland Cadets, she never anticipated the responsibilities she would take on throughout the years but is grateful for her journey:
“My experiences in Shetland Cadets have truly shaped me as a person and taught me how valuable it is to support others. I find being a role model to the younger cadets incredibly rewarding as I get the experience of seeing the cadets progress in the same way I did.”
Lavinia Schmidt, VAS Youth Volunteer Development Worker, thanked all young volunteers and the organisations who continue to provide opportunities for young people. She also highlighted that due to the continued growth of the scheme and the geographical spread, Voluntary Action Shetland will be visiting and hosting smaller ceremonies throughout the isles in the coming month to ensure all young Saltire volunteers across Shetland receive the recognition they deserve.
