THE efforts of 72 young volunteers from Helensburgh and the surrounding area have been lauded at a glittering awards ceremony in the town.

The Victoria Halls played host to the GIVE Programme's awards night last week, marking the conclusion of a second busy summer of hard work by the programme's participants – who gave an incredible total of 1,257 hours of volunteering in the course of just six weeks during the summer holiday in July and August.

Activities undertaken by the GIVE programme (Get Inspired through Volunteering and Engagement) included a community tea party, a 'skill swap' day, a donation drive for the Helensburgh and Lomond Foodbank, and a day litter-picking around the centre of the town.

In the course of the summer 34 of the programme's participants received Dementia Friends training in conjunction with Alzheimer Scotland, and 32 took part in a Heartstart first aid training course.

In return the young people enjoyed a series of fun rewards and away days such as trips to Our Dynamic Earth, the X Height climbing centre in Greenock and to Police Scotland's dog and mounted police units in Glasgow.

The programme was run as a partnership between Argyll and Bute Council's local youth services team, the Helensburgh office of the Argyll and Bute Third Sector Interface (TSI), and the Helensburgh and Lomond Youth Forum.

Ruth Cairns from the council's youth services team told those gathered at the Victoria Halls for the ceremony: “We're here to recognise and celebrate the hard work and effort of the young people who took part in the GIVE programme.

“Seventy-two young people volunteered their time for a variety of activities which benefited the community.

“This is the second year we've run the programme on this model – it may be a 'carrot and stick' approach, but it works.

“Last year lots of young people discovered volunteering as a great thing in itself.

“This year I witnessed so many young people acting in a mature and responsible way, and helping each other out.

“My massive congratulations to each young person here tonight.”

In addition to Heartstart and Dementia Friends certificats, many of those present also received Saltire Award certificates to mark passing the milestones of 10, 25, 50 or 100 hours of volunteering under the scheme – in many cases having started their volunteering efforts long before the start of this summer's programme.

Among those present at last Tuesday's ceremony was new Helensburgh Central ward councillor Lorna Douglas, who handed out some of the certificates – and who also supported the programme by taking part in the 'skill swap' day in July.

Cllr Douglas said: “The GIVE programme is an excellent and fun opportunity for young people to get involved in their wider community.

“The learning experience from taking part in this will be rich and rewarding, not only for themselves individually but also as a group.

“I did a meditation workshop allowing some of the young people and adults involved learn skills to help them de-stress and relax. Indeed, some relaxed so much they fell asleep!

“The award ceremony had a lovely upbeat atmosphere.

“It was lovely to witness the young volunteers' genuine kindness and support for one another’s achievements.”

Saltire Award recipients were as follows.

10 hours – Holly Bates, Callum Burton, Abigail Fields, Adam Howie, Jenny Hyde, Zoe Kemp, Lauren MacFarlane, Rowan McKay-Hubbard, Kaitlin Murray, Kieran Murray, Lewis Tynan, Brogan Watts.

25 hours – Aubrey Gub, Ryan Beaton, Simon Bianchet, Molly Buchan, Eilidh Burnett, Chloe Campbell, Megan Campbell, Paige Campbell, Keeley Duerden, Colby Grant, Emma Green, Ryan Gregory, Rebecca McAdam, Eva McAloon, Catherine MacDonald, Chris Meikle, Sarah Thompson, Connor Wilkes, Callum Williamson.

50 hours – Felicity Ap-Rhisiart, Sonja Bianchet, Robina-Ann McAdam, Chloe Meikle, Aiden Smith, Rosie Sumsion.

100 hours – Cameron McBride.

The night also featured the presentation of GIVE award certificates to those who have just begun to volunteer or who have reached singificant milestones not marked by a Saltire Award certificate.

Those award recipients, and the total hours completed to date, were as follows.

Alex Bates (167 hrs), Chelsea Black (275), Kameron Boyde (11), Elizabeth Cheesman (5), Eloise Collins (6), Findlay Cowie (39), Anna Freeman (121), William Harrison (19), Lauren Hendry (9), David Howie (19), Emma Izatt (9), Freyan Keenan (10), Peter MacCallum (7), Sandy MacCallum (4), Rhianna MacFarlane (19), Connor McCabe (7), Imogen McLeod (296), Campbell Overend (5), Isla Overend (5), Saskia Parsons (321), Scott Ramsay (90), Jack Rennie (6), Jamie-Leigh Smith (30), Amir Sohail (2), Aleesha Sohail (5), Aysha Sohail (41), Andrew Tennant (29), Ryan Thomson (43), Peter Vaughan (6), Owen Wilkinson (4), Eliasz Zalewski (4).