The 2023 event was the best attended yet, 84 awards were made including a platinum Youth Achievement Award (the first of its kind ever presented in the county) and 5 prestigious Saltire Summit Awards.
On receiving her award for volunteering at Hamnavoe House, Daisy Golder said:
It feels good to be rewarded for the time you’ve spent volunteering, as it helps you recognise that your time spent volunteering is valuable and you are making a difference. This type of recognition is very important because it raises awareness of volunteering, and can encourage more people to get involved.
Beth Fisher also volunteers at Hamnavoe House, as well as coaching with Orkney Women’s Football Club. She said:
I feel a sense of accomplishment when receiving an award as it shows that time you have spent helping others and seeing the hours add up over time makes me feel happy I have spent my spare time benefiting others life’s. Reserving awards like this gives recognition for people giving up there time to help others and can help motivate others to get involved as it is not going unnoticed.
Alana Sinclair and Megan Clouston who were MCs for the evening. Alana said:
I felt honoured and nervous that I was asked to be an MC for the night as it is an important night to recognise what young people do in our community. On the night I felt it went well, I made a few mistakes but that is usually expected when you are not used to speaking in front of large audiences! I learnt that you just needed to be confident and enthusiastic in what you were saying as the people receiving the awards deserved recognition for what they have done for others and the community.
Megan said:
I was excited to be asked to MC at the awards night but also a bit nervous due to my dyslexia and having to read off a script I didn’t know very well. It went very well which was good and there was a great attendance of amazing people who had done an amazing thing for the orkney community. I learnt that being dyslexic and having to read off a script isn’t hard if you have the confidence in yourself, public speaking skills and meeting new people during the night.
Eilidh Walker and Liam Tait, had been volunteering by playing music at community events. They also provided some of the entertainment for the evening. Liam said:
We got some great energy while playing. Overall, it was a fun filled night.
Volunteers aged between 12 and 25 can register to receive a Saltire Award. Go to the Saltire website to find out more.
