TD1 Youth Hub celebrates young people's volunteering achievements

A total of 20 young people attended the AGM and presentation night last week in order to receive their Saltire Award Certificates, which were presented by Galashiels Academy Head teacher, Kevin Ryalls.

The audience, including local MP Calum Kerr, were told how these young people had volunteered their time to a variety of different projects at TD1 Youth Hub, including the Community Youth Voice (CYV) group from which twins Lauren and Siobhan Call, aged 12, told the 50-strong audience about the work their group have been doing trying to improve people’s perceptions of Langlee and make things better for young people in the area.

The CYV Group is a joint partnership project with TD1 Youth Hub and Scottish Borders Council. Young people who volunteered to help out in the junior drop-ins and young people who are part of a youth committee that arranges events for other young people were also recognised for their contributions.

TD1 Youth Hub also became the first youth project in the Borders to be awarded the LGBT Charter Mark, demonstrating a commitment to young people, staff and others that LGBT equality is taken seriously and that discrimination will be challenged and diversity welcomed.

Ann Marriot from LGBT Youth Scotland presented the award and congratulated TD1, particularly for the young people feedback which in a survey showed they felt they were accessing an inclusive service.

TD1 Youth Hub Manager, Douglas Ormston, commented: “I am delighted that such a large audience from the community came along to celebrate the achievements of young people over the last year. Young people, by far, are the age group which volunteers the most in the Scottish Borders and celebrating their success, through recognition like Saltire Awards is important in encouraging young people to continue volunteering.

“It goes without saying that we are indebted to our funders, as a charity we are entirely reliant upon grants to continue the work we are doing, we offer a 6 days a week service and last year worked with over 270 young people from Galashiels area, without their support and that of the community we wouldn’t be supporting all these young people.”

Jessica Little, aged 13, has been coming along to TD1 Youth Hub for over a year and said: “TD1 has made my life better and it’s a great place to achieve things. I feel like I have had so many opportunities here, in the future I would like to be a Youth Worker and work for TD1.”

For more information contact Douglas Ormiston, Manager – 01896 752 442 or [email protected]

Notes to Editor

TD1 Youth Hub is a youth work organisation based in Galashiels and works with young people aged 11 – 19 years old. It aims to be a young person centre organisation that respects, values and engages with young people to address their needs by offering support, guidance and opportunities so young people can shape their own futures.