EDINBURGH’S FERGUS CRAWLEY IS YOUNG SCOT OF THE YEAR
Young people from Edinburgh have been announced as winners in the Arts, Equality and Diversity and Health and Wellbeing categories at this year’s Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards. Fergus Crawley, 25, also took home the title of ‘Young Scot of the Year’.
Fergus won the top spot in the Health and Wellbeing category for his work in encouraging young people to open up about their mental health struggles.
The personal trainer has been fundraising since 2018 to raise money for a host of men’s mental health charities, including going up and down Ben Nevis for 11 consecutive days, squatting 125,000 kg in 24 hours, and embarking on a 94-mile run.
His efforts have seen him raise a total of £100,000 in just four years, which Fergus hopes will go a long way to helping to break the stereotypes surrounding men’s mental health so that less people suffer in silence.
His charitable efforts blew the judges away, who also awarded Fergus Young Scot of the Year.
Addie, Hannah and Jo, all from the capital, won the Equality and Diversity award, sponsored by Arnold Clark, for their work in setting up Whatever Next? – a multi-media platform that explores their experiences as Chinese adoptees, and adoptees in general.
Through a monthly podcast, the three discuss the varied experiences they have had as adoptees, and how it has impacted the different areas of their lives – covering areas like the ABCs of adoption, food, adoptive parents and dating as an adoptee.
In doing so, they aim to open up a conversation around adoption – busting myths and providing relatable narratives to other adoptees.
The work of Whatever Next? has won acclaim and the chance to speak on bigger platforms – with the trio having been interviewed on national television. Their work also won them the Creative Edinburgh Student Award in 2021.
Jordan Stewart and Amaranta Laing won the top spot in the Arts category for their work in creating Fusion – an organisation which aims to amplify the voices of young people through the power of music.
By partnering with Children 1st, Jordan and Amaranta have helped 10-year-old Sophie to produce ‘Sophie’s Song. Sophie created the track in the hope of influencing the justice system for victims and witnesses of crime.
Now in its sixteenth year, the annual awards highlight the triumphs of young people in 13 different categories – from sport and the environment to enterprise and volunteering. They shine a light on the invaluable contributions made by remarkable young people across Scotland.
The winners were announced at a star-studded red-carpet ceremony at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. Radio 1 DJ Gemma Cairney hosted the evening.
Commenting on his win, Fergus said: “I had a great evening at the awards ceremony, and it was even better to be walking away with not one but two awards!
“It’s always a nice bonus to get recognition from the work I’ve been doing, but it’s the conversations around mental health that are the really important aspect. I’m hoping these awards will encourage more young people to open up about their experiences and allow me to continue visiting schools across Scotland to raise awareness of what I’m doing.”
Addie, Hannah and Jo said: “It’s so incredible to have won – we didn’t expect it all! It’s amazing to see that the work we’ve been doing is having an impact and making a difference.
“We’re really excited to have just signed a book deal and are working on getting everything finalised ahead of the launch in August.”
Jordan and Amaranta added: “There are no words to express how we felt when we found out we’d one – it was just surreal!
“It was such an honour for us to be able to take on the project and share Sophie’s story and we’re looking forward to composing more songs in the future. Congratulations to all the other nominees and winners”
Kirsten Urquhart, Chief Executive of Young Scot, said: “We’ve been completely inspired by the stories of our nominees, finalists and winners, who are all doing extraordinary things to improve the lives of others.
“We’ve kept the spirit of the Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards alive for the past two years by hosting fantastic virtual events, but it’s brilliant to have the awards back in all of their glory this year to celebrate Scotland’s young people, who do so much to inspire, support and motivate those around them.”
Award host Gemma Cairney said: “It was an absolute honour to host this year’s Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards. I was inspired by listening to the winners’ stories and their commitment to helping others in their community is truly remarkable. Congratulations to our winners and finalists!”