Strangers to North Edinburgh might be forgiven for thinking that all our young folk spend their time tearing around the neighbourhood on stolen motor bikes, causing fear and havoc all over the place. The truth, of course, is very different – yes, we have some problems with antisocial behaviour, but we’re not alone there: what areas don’t? And we also have something that some other communities would love to have: North Edinburgh has an abundance of great kids doing great things – and an event at Urban Village last night provided a timely opportunity to celebrate their many achievements.
North Edinburgh Young People’s Forum organised and staged the second annual Youth Awards in the Urban Village at Crewe Toll. The numbers attending were down on last year’s event, but what was lacking in numbers was more than made up for in enthusiasm!
Big winners on the night were Muirhouse Library, who won the Best Youth Organisation category in both the Under 12’s and 12 – 25s age groups. Parklife, the West Pilton Park action group, also did very well with members picking up a number of awards
As a former local youth worker Forth councillor Cammy Day once supported NEYPF and he introduced compere for the evening John Loughton. Local man John attended Forthview and Craigroyston High School and was a founder member of NEYPF. His big break came when he won Celebrity BIg Brother Hijack back in 2008 and he’s never looked back – John has become an international ambassador for young people and his services as a motivational speaker are much in demand.
He was the ideal master of ceremonies at the Urban Village event, getting through a pile of awards with good humour and he even managed to get some of the shy award winners to say a few words – quite an achievement!
Musical entertainment was provided by the excellent Ross Arthur, who stepped in at late notice to deliver a set that got some of the girls up on stage for a dance!
And the winners were …
North Edinburgh Youth Awards 2017: Under 12s
Male Pupil of the Year
Winner: CRAIG TILBURY
Runner Up: Malcolm Douglas
Female Pupil of the Year
Winner: NESRINE KARROBI
Runner up:
Best Friend Award (Male)
Winner: CONNOR DUFFY
Runner Up: Reece Devlin
Best Friend Award (Female):
Winner: RILEY PHILLIPS
Runner Up: Sinead Wylie
Sports Personality of the Year
Winner: LYLE WHITTAKER
Runner up: Kieran Smith
Best Footie Fanatic
Winner: BRECK RUSSELL
Runner up: Lennox Anthony
Youth Organisation of the Year
Winner: MUIRHOUSE LIBRARY
Runner Up: West Pilton Parklife group
Young Performer of the Year:
Winner: NELLIE WALLAS
Runner ups (2): Chloe and Joshua
Young Eco Warrior of the Year
Winner: SHANNON MARTIN
Runner up: Cameron Graham
North Edinburgh Youth Awards 2017: 12 – 25s
Volunteer of the Year
Winner: ROKSANA BARSAN
Runner up: Brandin Sharp
Best Shoulder to Lean On (Male)
Winner: LOUIS CORREIA
Runner up: Cameron Connolly
Best Shoulder to Lean On (Female)
Winner: CHARLENE FRASER
Runner up: Asha Domento
Most Improved Young Person of the Year
Winner: ROXANNE McELHONE
Runner up: Lewis Burke
Pupil of the Year
Winner: SAYMA HOSSAIN
Runner up: Logan McKinley
Sports Personality of the Year
Winner: TONI DONALDSON
Runner up: Josh Ward
Best Footie Fanatic
Winner: MAYO ROTIMI-OGUNDELE
Runner up: Kyle Murdoch
Youth Organisation of the Year
Winner: MUIRHOUSE LIBRARY
Runner up: Open All Hours (Ainslie Park Leisure Centre)
Young Performer of the Year
Winner: DYLAN STEWART
Runner up: Logan McKinley
Young Eco Warrior of the Year
Winner: JOSHUA GRAHAM
Runner up: Bethany Martin.
There were also presentations to judges Annie Cheung, Tony Anderson and Ellie Smith and there prizes too for Evie Mason and Kayleigh Anderson for dancing and top tweeting!
Congratulations to the award winners and to all the nominees – your friends, your families, your schools, your organisations and your community are all very proud of you!
More pictures now on NEN’s Facebook page
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