January 2011

A very Happy New Year to you all.  2011 has certainly kicked off at an enormous pace for the Diana Award and we are full steam ahead to ensure that it is a very successful year and that our profile and prestige will continue to rise at an enormous rate!  Please do continue to help us in reaching this goal and also in encouraging nominations of inspirational young people for a Diana Award!

Last year we processed 523 nominations and welcomed 4,083 new Award Holders to the community.  We look forward to increased numbers for 2011. To nominate an inspirational person or group click here

We are also delighted to announce that Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale has agreed to become a Patron to the Award.  He was formerly First Minister of the first Scottish Government and has done much to support and promote the Diana Award in Scotland.  As a Baron and a member of the House of Lords, he will continue to support the Award, particularly in Scotland and we are so grateful to him and honoured that he continues as a keen supporter of the Award and its Award Holders.

I continue to feel in awe of all that our Award Holders do and achieve.  On 17^th December over 80 Award Holders battled through blizzards and freezing weather to attend Inspire Day – a conference and celebration day of Award Holders and their projects and ideas!  It was exhilarating and truly inspiring and the gold star went to the 20+ young people who travelled overnight from Scotland to be with us.

On New Year’s Day, two Award Holders Gertride and Mildred were guests of Radio 4 Woman’s Hour special New Year’s Day Programme of Inspiring Women.  They spoke movingly, strongly and impressively about their project,  Breakin’ the Cycle to reduce gang and knife crime and were truly inspirational in what they said and what they do.

With warmest wishes,