Devon County Council

devon.gov.uk

From Louise Raymond, Exeter 383578, November 27, 2008

TEN young people will be presented with a special award in recognition of their personal achievements, at a presentation in Exeter next week.

The Youth Achievement Awards, run and funded by Devon County Council, accredit a range of responsibilities and challenges taken on by young people through their involvement with the Youth Service.

The awards are graded in four categories: Bronze Award - encourages young people to take part in peer group activities and consists of four 15-hour challenges; Silver Award - where young people take more responsibility and help to organise their own activities and consists of six 15-hour challenges; Gold Award - where the young people complete seven 15-hour challenges and also make a presentation. The focus is on planning, organising and leading activities. Platinum Award - Although similar in structure to the other awards, this includes at least 120 hours of participation. The process helps the young person to develop leadership roles. The young person is required to produce a personal development plan, undertake training, work in placements working with young people and give a presentation.

A presentation evening is being held on December 2nd at the Fountain Centre, St James Road, Exeter, at 7pm. Head of the Council's Youth Service, Dillon Hughes, will present the awards to the young people, and youth service staff and local County Councillors will be in attendance.

The awards will be presented to: Platinum - Max Hinks; Gold - Patrick Aplin; Silver - Beth South; Bradley Cartwright; Luke Millan; Andrew Stapley. Bronze - Lewis Green, Becky Vickery; Molly Hinks; Cassey Aggett.

All the successful candidates learnt a range of new skills and undertook projects such as learning sign language, helping deaf and hearing impaired young people, organising football matches, cookery courses, projects on anti racism and organising club programmes.

Max Hinks and Beth South commented on how beneficial the scheme had been for them. They said: "The youth achievement awards are a fantastic scheme of qualification designed to give young people a chance to develop skills both personal and practical.

"These awards have given us the chance to express ourselves and develop our skills through fun and useful activities.

"The awards have allowed us as young people to further develop all our skills and then pass them on to other young people through peer education."

Devon County Council's Executive Member for Children and Young People's Services, Cllr John Smith, said: "This is a superb achievement for all these young people, and my congratulations to them.

"This award highlights the positive role models many young people provide, by striving for and achieving personal and vocational goals.

"Schemes such as these run through our youth service are an excellent way to recognise young people's contribution to their peer groups and their local communities.

"In particular I would like to pay tribute to Max Hinks for achieving the Platinum award - not many of these are gained, so this is a real tribute to his efforts."

Devon County Councillor for St David's and St James', Cllr Phil Brock, said: "This is a really remarkable achievement by these young people. They are to be congratulated, and it is important that we acknowledge the dedication and determination that they have showed."

Ends

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: You are invited to attend the award presentation at The Fountain Centre, St James' Road, Exeter, on Tuesday, December 2,at 7pm.

Councillor John Smith can be contacted on 01626 772223.

Councillor Phil Brock can be contacted on 01392 277317.

• Leader of the Council - Cllr Brian Greenslade
• Chief Executive -- Phil Norrey

• Budget £800 million
• Key investments include:
• Schools £349 million
• Adult and Community Services £164 million
• Environment, Economy and Culture £106 million
• Children and Young People £101 million

• Other important County Council support includes:
• Building programme: £185 million for new schools, roads, care services, libraries and recycling centres

• Political make-up:
• County Council seats: 62
• 33 Liberal Democrat
• 23 Conservative
• 4 Labour
• 2 Independent
• Next County Council elections: May 7, 2009

• Key stats:
• Population: 741,000
• Schools: 365
• Pupils: 96,200
• Children looked after: 584
• Adults helped to live at home: 17,622
• Residential and nursing care: 4,212 adults
• Libraries and Mobile Libraries: 61
• Roads: 12,831 kms (7,973 miles)
• Bridges: 3,500
• Public Rights of Way: 4,960 kms (3,200 miles)
• Streetlights: 71,000
• Illuminated road signs: 10,917
• Recycling Centres: 20
• Recycling rate: 49.21%

Figures may be subject to change

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