10 of the best youth workers and youth work teams will be recognised at awards night next year

Youth workers and volunteers in Scotland are being encouraged to nominate entries for the National Youth Worker of the Year Awards 2015.

Organised by YouthLink Scotland the awards aim to recognise the very best work being done with young people across the country.

The awards, which feature 10 different categories, cover everyone from those employed as a youth worker to those who volunteer their time, as well as youth work mentors and managers.

Organisers hope to receive a wide range of nominations, in the eighth year of the awards, whether it be for the parent who runs a youth work project on a Friday night, a local Girlguide leader, a pupil who helps others being bullied or a respected youth work manager at a local council or voluntary organisation.

“These awards are a true celebration of our unstinting belief in our young people,” said Jim Sweeney, chief executive of YouthLink Scotland.

These awards are a true celebration of our unstinting belief in our young people

“I would love to see each category packed with nominations as there is so much life changing work going on.

“Right across the country in clubs and organisations, on the streets and in the great outdoors, youth workers give of their time to help young people achieve their potential and be all they can be. Youth work is a wholly positive experience that changes lives and adds to the commonwealth of Scottish society.”

Each of the 10 categories for the 2015 Awards will see three finalists chosen with the winners being presented with their award on the night at an awards dinner in Glasgow’s Crowne Plaza Hotel on 12 March.

The overall Youth Worker of the Year will be chosen from across the individual category winners.

Aileen Campbell, minister for children and young people, added: “Every year the National Youth Worker of the Year Awards rightly celebrate the often-unseen heroes who do valuable work in our communities. I encourage everyone to consider people in their community who could be nominated and I look forward to hearing more about the nominees and winners.”

The deadline for nominations, which can be made on the Youthlink website, for each of the 10 award categories is Thursday 18 December 2014.