Inspiring youth awards give cause for hope

AMID the threat of global war, the frustration of seeing some politicians (not all) enrich themselves instead of focusing on their roles, and the looming breakdown of our natural environment, it can be easy to think the worst of all of us.

- ANDY PHILLIPS

So I was grateful for the chance to attend the Plymouth Youth Awards on Saturday, and be offered a rather different perspective.

There were 13 categories, each with three shortlisted finalists that had been picked from hundreds of nominations.

It was not just the winners who had managed some incredible feats and achievements, often in the most difficult of circumstances. A compelling case could have made for each and every finalist to have won their category, and picking between them must have been an incredibly difficult decision for the judges.

Having been invited to a number of different awards ceremonies in my career as a journalist, I always say to those shortlisted that they should celebrate as if they are winners, as judging between finalists can be the difference between a well-written nomination form, or the personal view of the judges.