By Stacey Heaney

Colin Area Youth Forum from the greater Colin area scooped top prize in the Outstanding Achievement category of the Northern Ireland Youth Awards 2007. Pictured is Mary Gormley, former Miss Ireland and Thomas Kane, BBC who hosted the ceremony, presenting the award to Ciara Gallagher, Christine McKinney, Aisling Branney, Danielle Hughes, Melissa McCartan and Aiofe Digney from the Youth Group.

Local girl Gillian Prescho from NICE in South Belfast was Runner-Up in the Volunteer category of the Northern Ireland Youth Awards 2007. Pictured is Mary Gormley, former Miss Ireland and Thomas Kane, BBC who hosted the ceremony with Mary Field from YouthNet presenting the award to Gillian.

LOCAL young people and youth workers were celebrating last week as they were recognised at the Youth Awards Ceremony at Lisburn's Lagan Valley Island Centre on Thursday May 3.

The Colin Area Youth Forum were the proud winners of the Outstanding Achievement Award. The group consist of 10 young people from age 14-18 from the Twinbrook, Poleglass and Lagmore areas who meet every week to discuss issues that affect their lives.

Also recognised were the Colin Youth Development Centre Inclusion Group, Poleglass who were highly commended in the Inclusion Award category, as was the Lagmore Health/Arts Programme in the Promoting Health Award category.

Lisburn girl Gillian Presho from NICE was also honoured as she was named as the runner-up in the Volunteer Award category. Gillian has been volunteering with NICE for nearly six years supporting community relations youth work.

The awards, which are now in their second year, were set up to recognise the achievements, talents and energy of young people and those who work with them. Sponsored by the Department of Education, Youth Council for Northern Ireland and the Health Promotion Agency, the awards were open to both individuals and groups in seven categories.

Karen Witherspoon, from the Youth Council for Northern Ireland, the awards organiser said, "We initiated these awards last year as a way of recognising the exceptional work carried out by young people and those involved in the Youth Service.

"With almost 20,000 adult volunteers and paid youth workers, we knew that there was some really exciting and innovative work being undertaken. These awards are a chance to celebrate the positive work being carried out and raise awareness among the public of the contribution young people make to society�