Youth Volunteer Awards 2010

The annual Youth Volunteer Awards is an opportunity to reward the great work young people do in our community.  
 
This is the sixth year Volunteer Nelson,  the New Hub and the Tasman and Nelson Youth Councils have organised the awards.  Manager of Volunteer Nelson, Jude McNabb says it has proved to be a very effective way of promoting the positive work of young people.
 
“There are a lot of unsung heroes out there and this is a chance to celebrate their contribution – we want to hear about teens who are working on environmental issues, mentors and buddies,  people who work behind the scenes at events, helpers at the SPCA, tree planters, sports coaches, first aiders and other individuals and volunteer groups,” she said.
 
Last year the Nelson Cadet Unit, was one of five special awards winners. The cadets received several nominations for their voluntary work with various groups including the Summit Rescue Helicopter, the RSA and Broadgreen House. Unit Commander, Tim Hoffman says young people do voluntary work for many different reasons.
 
“One of the reasons the kids gave me was, it gives an opportunity to get the message out that not all teenagers are ‘smoking drunks’,” he says.
 
Around 100 young people are recognised each year in the awards, and all nominees are invited to a special function, being held during Youth Week on 27 May at The New Hub. Nominees receive certificates of recognition and an acknowledgement in a newspaper feature. This year, the nominators go in a prize draw.
 
Groups being nominated must be not-for-profit voluntary organisations, and nominees must be between the ages of 12 and 25yrs. Volunteering can be considered as anything a person does of their own free will, unpaid, for the common good. Nominations are open from 8 March and close on 30 April. This year nominations can be made online  at http://www.tyc.co.nz/yva2010 or for a nomination form contact Volunteer Nelson, phone 546 7681 or email nvc@ts.co.nz.
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