ACHIEVEMENTS OF LOCAL YOUTH CELEBRATED AT GALA EVENING
More than 500 people attended the prestigious Youth Awards ceremony at the Ramada Hotel, Belfast, to celebrate the achievements of young people and youth workers right across Northern Ireland. Rich with local talent, the event was hosted by Cool FM’s Connor Phillips and featured exhilarating performances from some of Northern Ireland’s rising stars, who joined together to recognise the important work being undertaken within the youth sector. These included Belfast's High-Output, recent winners of the Irish Youth Music Awards, Stranmillis graduate Alice Johnston, who starred as Belle in the Belfast Operatic Company’s production of Beauty and the Beast, as well as the Dundonald Elim Church Girls' Brigade.
Now in their fifth year, the awards pay tribute to the commitment, success, dedication and energies of our young people and those who work with them. Sponsored by the Department of Education and the Youth Council for Northern Ireland, the awards were open to both individuals and groups in the nine categories of Volunteering (Adult and Young), Peace Building, Innovation, International work, Inclusion, Health Promotion work, Outstanding Achievement, Intergenerational Achievement as well as, for the first time, Projects that were School-led.
This ceremony was also an opportunity to celebrate the dedication of the extensive network of around 20,000 adult volunteers and youth workers who devote their time to helping to run these projects which have great benefits for young people in Northern Ireland. |
Gilbert Bell of the NEELB and compere for the evening, Cool FM's Connor Phillips, presented Jason with his award.
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The main Award of the evening was presented to JASON McCABE from Cookstown Youth Resource Centre who was named the winner in the Outstanding Achievement category.
Jason has been involved in various projects within the SELB. His main interest lies within multi-media. He actively encourages and supports other young people to use video equipment, cameras and ICT.
Jason has overcome difficult challenges as he lives with a severe disability which means he is unable to speak or use his hands. He communicates with staff and young people using a system of tapping and pointing with his feet.
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