Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury and Ashburton Youth Council have been working together to recognise the work of youth volunteers and launched an inaugural awards event this week, to co-incide with Student Volunteer Week.

Manager of Volunteering Mid & South Canterbury Dellwyn Moylan said young people gave their time across a diverse range of roles in the district and the awards would recognise their inspiring and selfless work.

“While there are awards like the Council’s Community Awards and New Zealand Honours, young people are not often nominated due to the length of service required to qualify,” she said.

“It’s exciting to now be able to celebrate the mahi being done by our youth and to recognise the time they are giving to others and their community. There are more and more young people wanting to volunteer to gain new skills, meet new people, make a contribution and use their talents to help others.”

Ashburton Youth Council 2021 member Janre Lim, head boy at Mt Hutt College and also on the volunteering organisation’s board, has been the driving force behind the new awards and has gained plenty of event management planning skills along the way.

“The awards seek to recognise the hard work, community service and dedication of rangatahi within our district. These awards acknowledge and honour young people who have made an outstanding positive impact within the community through volunteering,” he said.

Nominations for the awards now open and will be accepted until Saturday 14 May. An evening to present the awards is planned in June.

There are three categories that organisations, workplaces and schools can nominate young people in: Community and Social service, Cultural and Environmental and Sport volunteering.  The young person must be aged 25 or under at the time of nomination.

The awards night for 2022 will be an invite-only event due to covid. In future years the community will be welcome to join the celebration and hear these young people’s stories and from inspiring young guest speakers.

This year’s guest speaker is Josiah Tualamali'I, a semi finalist in the Young New Zealander of the Year Award, and entertainment will be provided by local youth.

Nomination forms are available from Community House Mid Canterbury, 44 Cass Street, Ashburton, and Methven iHub, 160 Main Street, Methven, or by emailing manager-midc@vmsc.org.nz.

Nominations close 14 May.

Student Volunteer Week runs from 4-10 April.