THE VOSCARS 2010 Thursday 20th January was all about celebrating the achievements of our young volunteers, mentors and projects. Our annual event was held in Edinburgh and everyone enjoyed a fantastic night at our very own “Oscars” and this year we had brand new categories. Films of the nominees and the event will be posted soon, but in the meantime here are details of our top team. Personal Development winner William Lamont has overcome a tough start to life, being taken into care when he was just seven, and being constantly in trouble. Volunteering through ProjectScotland with the Galloway Forest Project has seen him move his life into a new dimension, securing his own council tenancy and gaining qualifications that make him very employable. His Volunteer Supervisor said “William is a young man with great potential, and volunteering has definitely been a catalyst for unlocking something good in him.” David McLuckie used his own interests to introduce a totally new activity to Playbusters, an organisation based in the east end of Glasgow which brings families, children and the wider community together through a variety of activities and educational opportunities. David has a passion for fishing, and identified an opportunity for young people in the East end of Glasgow to learn something new and to spend some quality time in the countryside. One young member of his fishing trips even made the local press by catching a 5lb 12oz rainbow trout from a notoriously difficult stretch of water. His Fishing Club is now part of the core programme for Playbusters. David’s efforts won him the Significant Contribution Award and all at Playbusters agree he has made a huge contribution to the local community and helped combat the negative stereotype of young people from the East End of Glasgow. Project of the Year went to Strathmore Centre for Youth Development (SCYD) in Blairgowrie. SCYD is a young-person-centred organisation, with young people forming the majority of its management committee. From running local community events to petitioning the Scottish Government, SCYD has demonstrated outstanding commitment to young people. SCYD was given this award because it doesn’t just change the lives of its volunteers, it changes the whole community. Ronnie Mackie from the Ecology Centre in Fife was this year’s Mentor of the Year. Ronnie feels that the support ProjectScotland mentors provide during their placement really makes a difference to volunteers. “It’s crucial to treat each person as an individual to give them the very best chance after their placement,” he commented. ProjectScotland’s Special Award went to Stan Corcoran, Strategies Manager for Galloway Forest District of the Forestry Commission. Stan won this award because he has been a fantastic ambassador for ProjectScotland over the last five years and was instrumental in bringing together the Forestry Commission, ProjectScotland and the South Ayrshire Volunteer Centre, to deliver a hugely successful project in the Galloway Forest. Without Stan’s unstoppable energy the project could not have been developed to the scale and quality that has been achieved. Lindy Renwick, Stan’s colleague in Galloway Forest District is in no doubt about Stan’s contribution: “One thing I can say from the bottom of my heart is that Stan cares passionately about today’s youngsters. He has worked tirelessly to keep the project going.” Susan Watt, Chief Executive of ProjectScotland believes that youth volunteering is of increasing importance and value to Scotland. “This has been a fantastic evening celebrating some amazing achievements. It never ceases to inspire me when I see how young people flourish during their volunteering experience. I’m looking forward to offering even more young people exciting and challenging opportunities in the year ahead.”
THE VOSCARS 2010
Thursday 20th January was all about celebrating the achievements of our young volunteers, mentors and projects. Our annual event was held in Edinburgh and everyone enjoyed a fantastic night at our very own “Oscars” and this year we had brand new categories.
Films of the nominees and the event will be posted soon, but in the meantime here are details of our top team.
Personal Development winner William Lamont has overcome a tough start to life, being taken into care when he was just seven, and being constantly in trouble. Volunteering through ProjectScotland with the Galloway Forest Project has seen him move his life into a new dimension, securing his own council tenancy and gaining qualifications that make him very employable.
His Volunteer Supervisor said “William is a young man with great potential, and volunteering has definitely been a catalyst for unlocking something good in him.”
David McLuckie used his own interests to introduce a totally new activity to Playbusters, an organisation based in the east end of Glasgow which brings families, children and the wider community together through a variety of activities and educational opportunities. David has a passion for fishing, and identified an opportunity for young people in the East end of Glasgow to learn something new and to spend some quality time in the countryside. One young member of his fishing trips even made the local press by catching a 5lb 12oz rainbow trout from a notoriously difficult stretch of water. His Fishing Club is now part of the core programme for Playbusters.
David’s efforts won him the Significant Contribution Award and all at Playbusters agree he has made a huge contribution to the local community and helped combat the negative stereotype of young people from the East End of Glasgow.
Project of the Year went to Strathmore Centre for Youth Development (SCYD) in Blairgowrie. SCYD is a young-person-centred organisation, with young people forming the majority of its management committee. From running local community events to petitioning the Scottish Government, SCYD has demonstrated outstanding commitment to young people. SCYD was given this award because it doesn’t just change the lives of its volunteers, it changes the whole community.
Ronnie Mackie from the Ecology Centre in Fife was this year’s Mentor of the Year. Ronnie feels that the support ProjectScotland mentors provide during their placement really makes a difference to volunteers. “It’s crucial to treat each person as an individual to give them the very best chance after their placement,” he commented.
ProjectScotland’s Special Award went to Stan Corcoran, Strategies Manager for Galloway Forest District of the Forestry Commission. Stan won this award because he has been a fantastic ambassador for ProjectScotland over the last five years and was instrumental in bringing together the Forestry Commission, ProjectScotland and the South Ayrshire Volunteer Centre, to deliver a hugely successful project in the Galloway Forest. Without Stan’s unstoppable energy the project could not have been developed to the scale and quality that has been achieved.
Lindy Renwick, Stan’s colleague in Galloway Forest District is in no doubt about Stan’s contribution: “One thing I can say from the bottom of my heart is that Stan cares passionately about today’s youngsters. He has worked tirelessly to keep the project going.”
Susan Watt, Chief Executive of ProjectScotland believes that youth volunteering is of increasing importance and value to Scotland. “This has been a fantastic evening celebrating some amazing achievements. It never ceases to inspire me when I see how young people flourish during their volunteering experience. I’m looking forward to offering even more young people exciting and challenging opportunities in the year ahead.”