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Pride of Somerset Youth Awards

PRIZEMONEY of more than £1,000 is being offered for the first Pride of Somerset Youth Awards, being run by the Rotary Club of Taunton, your Yeovil Express and local radio station Orchard FM.

The prize fund has come from donations from the Rotary Club, Connexions Somerset, and the Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

And the awards will be presented at Somerset College’s conference centre in Taunton, which has been provided free of charge by the college.

The ceremony on January 18 next year will be hosted by the BBC’s Somerset reporter, Clinton Rogers.

Ken Bird, Editor-in-Chief of the Yeovil Express, said: “We have always been proud to showcase the achievements of young people in Somerset.

“Now we are delighted to support this superb new award which will go even further to rewarding the remarkable accomplishments of our young people.”

Jon White, Orchard FM’s programme controller, added: “This is a great opportunity to recognise and highlight the fantastic things done by young people in our county.”

How do you nominate someone for an award?

Nominating someone special for the Pride of Somerset Youth Awards is easy!

Firstly, tell us about the nominee. Send us their full name, age, school/college (where appropriate), postal address, and contact phone number(s).

Write up to a maximum of 200 words detailing their accomplishments, to explain why they deserve a Pride of Somerset Youth Award.

Include your own name and contact details.

Send the details to newsdesk@countygazette.co.uk or to Youth Awards, Somerset County Gazette, St James Street, Taunton, TA1 1JR.

You can also nominate someone using the the on-line entry form

Please notify the nominee (or their parents, where appropriate), that you have put them forward.

Who are the awards for?

The awards are not split into categories – we just want to hear about young people who have shown that extra spirit to do something exceptional ... whatever it may be.

From achievements in sport and music to caring for others and the environment, we know there are young people out there who display tremendous generosity, courage, talent and passion.

The prizemoney, of more than £1,000, will be divided between the winners, who will also receive trophies as lasting recognition of their success.

Nominees must be under the age of 20 on January 18, 2008 – the day the awards will be presented and they must also live in Somerset.

What happens next?

You’ll see more articles in the Express and on our website – www.yeovilexpress.co.uk – in coming weeks promoting the awards.

You’ll also hear even more about the awards on Orchard FM in coming weeks on 96.5 - 97.1 - 102.6 FM.

The deadline for nominations is midday on Friday, December 21.

The judging panel will meet in early January after which, those young people nominated for awards will be sent invitations to come along – accompanied by two guests of their choice.