Youth Forum

Finalists

Community Involvement

• The Girvan Media Group

  The Girvan Media Group has been active in volunteering on a regular basis. They have worked on various health promotion events and have recently took part in training for negotiating local discounts through the NEC card.

• Steven Fitzsimmons

  Steven has been involved in the Community Safety ‘Hoodies with Goodies’ initiative which involved taking orders and delivering provisions to the elderly and vulnerable residents in his home village of Mossblown. Steven is a member of the Mossblown Regeneration Group and assisted at this years Mossblown Fun Day.

• Girvan Academy Pupil Council

  Girvan Academy Pupil Council have been actively involved in the regeneration of their community. Since the closure of their local swimming pool they have worked closely with the community to put forward young peoples views on the building of a new leisure centre for the community.

Democracy/Citizenship

• Prestwick Academy Equalities and Diversity Group

  Two pupils founded the Prestwick Academy Equalities and Diversity Group which meets weekly during lunch time to explore how to promote diversity in Prestwick Academy. The group are also steering the schools application to become a Rights Respecting School through UNICEF. The founding members give a lot of their free time and prepare well for the group.

• Kirsty Lang

  Kirsty has been elected as a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament for the Ayr constituency. She presented her manifesto to assemblies and gave her peers the opportunity to ask questions during her PSE lessons. Along with other MSYPs she has conducted a survey that she developed to seek the views of young people. She actively promotes the work she does within her school and works well with her peers and teachers.

• Cameron Fong

  Cameron has recently been elected as a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament for the Ayr constituency. Since being elected Cameron has taken his role seriously keeping the young people at his school informed of the work he is involved in and recently took part in the Involvement Training Kit Programme. Cameron has also developed a website so that his peers can contact him with any questions.

Entertainment

• Ciaran McHugh

  Ciaran is part on the Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra who have recently toured America. He plays violin, drums and piano and plays in his own 5 member band Glow. Glow have performed at many functions such as weddings, church, Ceilidhs, Schools and music festivals.

• Scott Barrie

  Scott has been a member of Maybole Pipe Band from the age of 9 and South Ayrshire Schools Pipe Band from primary 7. He has represented South Ayrshire in the National Finals World Burns Federation Competition, performed on the homecoming DVD and was the official piper of the Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra.

• Jamie McGheechan

  Jamie aka Little Fire has worked tirelessly promoting and improving singing and song writing in Ayrshire. He is very talented and has the enthusiasm and skills to deliver advice and support to the local music scene. He has been an inspiration for young musicians within the community. He has a pod cast and music column which he uses to talk other talent within the Ayrshire area.

Environment

• STEP Gardening Group

  The STEP Gardening Group created a garden within the grounds of Southcraig School in Ayr that they pupils could use to actively learn about nature and environment. They were involved in the planning, timing, planting of flowers to create the garden and in the collection of recycled materials to build an eco friendly greenhouse.

Health

• Dionne Barr

  Dionne has spoken openly and honestly about dealing with alcoholism in her family and used her experience to encourage others and highlight the impact of alcohol addiction. On a daily basis Dionne plays a major part in supporting her Dad by visiting him every day. She recently promoted the work of Alcohol Focus Scotland in an article published in the Scottish Herald.

• Stacey McCreadie

  Stacey took part in a Healthy Lifestyle Group. Despite the difficulties in her personal life, her attendance has been perfect. As well as being an active member she also became a peer supporter for the group and she particularly helped on young girl who was facing similar family issues. Stacey now has an awareness of how to make healthy food and lifestyle choices and incorporate this into her daily living.

• Queen Margaret Academy

  Heartstart Initiative - Senior pupils from Queen Margaret Academy are learning about CPR and emergency medical procedures. They have shown great dedication and assist school staff to pass on their knowledge during PSHE and personal support periods.

South Ayrshire Youth Forum Member

• Darren Kennedy

  Darren has been a member of the SAYF for several years. He contributes well to youth forum meetings and has volunteered to help with many campaigns and projects.

• Andrew Pollock

  Andrew dedicates a lot of time and efforts to the SAYF. He gets on well with others in the youth forum and always encourages others to do well.

• Maria McGough

  Maria is one of the longest serving members of the SAYF she is a dedicated member who always volunteers to help with all SAYF events and has shown an increase in confidence throughout her time in the Youth Forum.

Sport

• Ali Roy

  Ali is the under 12,13 and 16 British Champion in Chess and the Scottish Girls Champion. She has travelled around the world to represent Scotland and South Ayrshire. She has many achievements but tends to keep them to herself and she has been nominated to received the recognition she deserves.

• Craig McDuff

  Craig has represented Scotland and the Northern Ireland region at corps level events in football and athletics and has lots of medals from various sporting achievements. He helps to support other cadets in their efforts towards sporting success. He now leads in promoting sports within the Cadets and also encourages people outwith the Cadets to become involved in sports.

• Lorna Thomson

  Lorna was involved in a speed skating accident while competing and ended up having an operation. She had to walk with crutches but two years after her accident she is now back on the ice doing what she loves.

Unsung Hero

• Paul Thomson

  Paul correctly administered first aid to an elderly woman who had collapsed after suffering a hypoglycaemic attack. Paul adminstered first aid having correctly judged it was a diabetic attack, Paul stuck to his convictions despite the attendtion of 2 first aiders who recommended giving water.

• Rachel Whiteman

  Rachel is committed to helping others in her local community and also sponsors a young boy from Romania which helps provide him with money and food and Christmas gifts. She was recently in Romania and bought a new roof for a home.

• Emma Catterson

  After her twin brother fell approximately 40 feet from a bridge Emma was able to remain calm and stop a passing car for help and lead her dad to her injured brother. She stayed with him by his hospital bed for most of his stay.

Volunteering

• David Girvan

  David has been actively and productively involved in his community for many years helping to arrange many community events such as the Annual Flower Show and Girvan Folk Festival. He is an officer for the Girvan Boys Brigade and most recently David personally raised over £1,700 for charity by creating the Girvan 2011 Calendar.

• Owen McCormack

  Owen recently went to Romania to assist in the building of an education centre and helped deliver food parcels to outer villages. Owen helped to raise £600 to enable him to get to Romania to assist these people by bag packing and car washing.

• Kyle McCormick

  Kyle attends the Air Training Corps and has played a huge part in the Fort Carrick Project at Craigengillan. He complied and presented a presentation to businesses to help secure a substantial amount of money for the project.