The Docklands Young Achiever Awards
The Project:
The Docklands Young Achiever Awards were established in 2007 by the Docklands Authority to commemorate outstanding achievement by young people in the Docklands area.
How it Works:
The Awards aim to recognise the outstanding merits if young people aged 11-18 years for their talent, bravery or the positive contribution they make to the Docklands area. There are eight categories covering individuals and groups including Personal Achievement, Service to the Community, Sport, Young Carer and Volunteers.
The 2008 awards were judged by an independent selection panel chaired by Donall Curtin, Board Member of the Docklands Authority and including Niall Quinn, Chairman of Sunderland Football Club; Superintendent Ray Barry, Store Street Station; Tom O'Connor, Consultant to A&L Goodbody Solicitors and Director of the Docklands Community Trust; Sarah Howell, Raising Standards Co-ordinator Sunderland Foundation; Mary Finan, Chairperson of RTE and ESRI and Andy Neal, Sunderland City Council Youth Development Group interim Manager.
The Right Result:
Over were 500 young people received a nomination for the Docklands Young Achiever Awards 2008. There were 34 winners in total across the eight categories. John Gormley T.D, Minister for the environment, Heritage and Local Government attended and presented the overall awards in the Mansion House on April 7th 2008. The overall individual winner was Desmond Soon for his outstanding contribution to sport at his local club Clanna Gael Fontenoy.