Young people from across Scotland will be publicly honoured with The Diana Award for going above and beyond in their daily lives to create and sustain positive change.
Today inspirational children and teens, from across Scotland, will be presented with the highest accolade a young person can achieve for social action or humanitarian efforts – The Diana Award. The ceremony comes as The Diana Award celebrates its 20th anniversary year.
Established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, the Award is given out by the charity of the same name and has the support of both her sons, The Duke of Cambridge and The Duke of Sussex.
These exceptional young people have demonstrated their ability to inspire and mobilise their own generation to service their communities through campaigning, volunteering, fundraising, tackling bullying or overcoming extreme life challenges. Although their causes and backgrounds are varied, what they all have in common is that they are changing their communities and the world as Princess Diana believed they could.
Esther is a dedicated young activist passionate about fighting for the stigmatised, the under-represented and for the planet. From homelessness, to mental health – gender equality, to climate change, Esther is a keen activist who knows that you are never too young to make a difference.
Isabelle is an inspirational young person who aims to positively change the lives of others less fortunate than herself. Following the death of her grandfather to cancer, Isabelle wants to ensure that money is not a barrier to people receiving medicine or support, and that families are able to access help when needed. Through fundraisers such as car boot sales and sponsored events, Isabelle has raised over £2000 to date for various charities, including Cancer Research, Bare Necessities baby bank and her school’s laptop fund. Through her work she is making a difference and supporting causes which need it most.
Ross is an extremely charitable young person who constantly puts the needs of other before himself. After his diagnosis with Tourette Syndrome, Ross began to create origami structures as a coping mechanism, which later inspired him to set up an origami club in his school. After being nominated for a Young Scot Award in 2015, Ross’s origami sculptures soared in popularity helping him to raise a four figure sum for Tourette Scotland. He gives up his time during the school day and in his local community for other disability non-profits, including Glasgow Humane Society and Friends Forever, creating a positive impact in his community.
“We congratulate all our new Diana Award Holders from Scotland who are changemakers for their generation. We know by receiving this honour they will inspire more young people to get involved in their communities and begin their own journey as active citizens. For over twenty years The Diana Award has valued and invested in young people encouraging them to continue to make positive change in their communities and lives of others.”
Award Holders have been put forward by adults who know the young people in a professional capacity and recognised their efforts as a positive contribution to society. Through a rigorous nomination process, these nominators had to demonstrate the nominee’s impact in five key areas: Vision, Social Impact, Inspiring Others, Youth Leadership, and Service Journey.
There are 13 Diana Award Judging Panels representing each UK region or nation and a further two panels representing countries outside of the UK. Each panel consist of four judges; Two Diana Award Holders, an education or youth work professional, and a business or government representative. The panels have an important main purpose: to determine which nominations from each UK region/nation will receive The Diana Award.
Nominations are judged using the Criteria Guide and Scoring Guide which have been created to measure quality of youth social action.
As Sports Captain at her school and a dedicated fundraiser, Katy supports younger pupils and raises awareness for various charities within her community. She runs a weekly club for dancers of all levels, increasing participant’s creativity, confidence and wellbeing. Katy frequently gives up her lunchtimes to organise annual sporting events to promote the importance of good heath and supports PE classes in her free periods. In addition, Katy fundraises for a range of charities, including Macmillan Cancer Research, organising and hosting a coffee morning at her school, and initiating a ‘Make-Up Free Friday’, donating funds to Glasgow Women’s Aid.
Demileigh is an active volunteer within her school and community, participating in numerous extracurricular activities. Demileigh is a Sports Leader and Ambassador for her school, working with younger pupils to encourage them to stay active and healthy. As House Captain, she represents the views of her peers in the Pupil Council, enhancing the Council’s principles and displaying them on a daily basis through her leadership and mentoring activities. Demileigh also volunteers weekly, supporting vulnerable young people with their literacy and numeracy skills, sharing her own knowledge and experience with them.
Katie has been volunteering with her local Brownies for the past four years, supporting the group to develop their creativity and self-confidence. Katie aims to pass on the skills she learnt through her time as a Brownie, facilitating a safe and fun environment for the girls to learn, develop and make new friends. Katie plans and organises weekly sessions, ensuring the efforts of the group are rewarded through the badge system. She has taught skills such as crafts, cooking and leadership, in addition to organising day trips. Through obtaining badges and learning new skills, Katie has introduced the group to a world of new challenges, opportunities and fun.
Kate is a committed volunteer who has been giving her time weekly for the last three years at her local Rainbows unit. Through her work with the group, she has become a role model for young girls and has supported them build on their personal development skills. She has organised a wide variety of activities, such as day trips and camping trips, working alongside the girls to develop their independence, confidence and creativity. Through her support, Kate is helping girls to overcome the challenges that they may face.
Isabelle is an inspirational young person who aims to positively change the lives of others less fortunate than herself. Following the death of her grandfather to cancer, Isabelle wants to ensure that money is not a barrier to people receiving medicine or support, and that families are able to access help when needed. Through fundraisers such as car boot sales and sponsored events, Isabelle has raised over £2000 to date for various charities, including Cancer Research, Bare Necessities baby bank and her school’s laptop fund. Through her work she is making a difference and supporting causes which need it most.
Orla is an exemplary student and outstanding leader at Jordanhill School. She takes an active role in numerous campaigns and extracurricular activities, such as being part of the Jordanhill Anti-Bullying Group and LGBT+ group. She has taken on numerous roles in her school and has demonstrated her passion for change by encouraging others to get involved during whole school assemblies. Orla is a dedicated student who demonstrates empathy towards others, leading her peers effectively and inspiring them to take action. She is admired across the school community for her knowledge and advocacy for the rights of others, making her a true role model for other young people.
James selflessly volunteers numerous hours each week to support young people with social and emotional needs, both in his school at Braidhurst High School and at community youth clubs. Through his work, many young people look up to James as a role model and seek him out around school to speak to him. James is always willing to give his time and is more than happy to provide support to others, just as he was supported in his younger years. James continues to harness his own story and experience to help other pupils, actively demonstrating his personal passion to improve the lives of others.
When Anna’s mother was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition, she experienced the impact that such a major event can have within families. Inspired by this experience, Anna now works to help other children facing similar situations. She has raised over £12,000 for charity and donated a huge number of practical items to make the lives of patients and their families easier in times of need. Anna believes in the dignity of all and is passionate about giving her time to improve the lives of others. She is an inspirational role model and has been relentless in her belief that by working together we can achieve great outcomes.
Kira is an active pupil in her school and an amazing role model for her fellow students. She is part of a number of clubs and councils and dedicates an incredible amount of her free time to volunteering in the local community. Through her role as a volunteer, many young people trust Kira and look up to her, valuing her encouragement to get involved in clubs and sport activities. She shows incredible enthusiasm in all she does and always works to involve young people in extracurricular clubs. Kira is passionate about giving young people a voice and through her support she is inspiring other young people to be the best they can be.
Mark is an inspiring young leader for younger pupils at Kilpatrick School. He always goes out of his way to support pupils within his school and has taken on leadership responsibilities while supporting first year pupils during their school transition week. He also acts as a mentor for other pupils to support them both academically and personally. Mark knows that he has come a long way since primary school and has achieved this through the help and support of others. Now he is driven to give back to others, stepping up to be a role model for his peers and becoming a leading example for other pupils in his school.
Matthew fundraises for and acts as an ambassador for Starchild, a charity focused on improving the lives, education and wellbeing of people in Uganda. He collects supplies, including books, stationary and art provisions, to send to the Starchild School of Creative Arts, and has helped raise awareness of autism in Uganda through educational documentaries with Starchild and through public speaking. Matthew has led the funding of and supported the education of a Ugandan pupil for the past two years and encourages his peers to volunteer their time for good causes. Through his work, Matthew is providing better opportunities for young people in the future.
Ross is an extremely charitable young person who constantly puts the needs of other before himself. After his diagnosis with Tourette Syndrome, Ross began to create origami structures as a coping mechanism, which later inspired him to set up an origami club in his school. After being nominated for a Young Scot Award in 2015, Ross’s origami sculptures soared in popularity helping him to raise a four figure sum for Tourette Scotland. He gives up his time during the school day and in his local community for other disability non-profits, including Glasgow Humane Society and Friends Forever, creating a positive impact in his community.
Liam is an enthusiastic volunteer who has given over 500 hours to The Spartans Community Football Academy (SCFA), where he supports the Youth Work team to deliver their various impactful programmes. For the last three years he has helped run their Saturday morning breakfast club, ensuring that local young people get a hot meal on Saturday mornings. Liam is an integral part of the SCFA and is known among his group as someone who will always lend a hand to someone in need. Through his work, he is an inspiration to others for his willing nature to step up to make life easier for others.
Rebecca is an exceptional young person who has gone above and beyond as a volunteer. She is involved in a vast number of different volunteering roles, from facilitating games and activites with Disability Football Class to greeting international Badminton players with sports group Badminton Scotland. She also volunteers with Milngavie Football Club Disability Section, Clober Primary School, 2nd Milngavie Rainbows and Young Enterprise. Her dedication for volunteering comes from her passion to help other people. Her willingness to give to charitable causes is truly wonderful and makes her a shining example for other young people in her school and community.
An exemplary student at Braidhurst High School, Ellie strives to always help others and lead in a mature and inspiring manner. Ellie is a Scout Leader with 10th Motherwell Scouts and their Cubs section. She organises games and activities and plays a crucial role in preparing younger members for their summer camps. She is also a member of the Muirhouse Senior Youth Group and takes part in issue-based activities. Her enthusiasm and positivity is abundantly clear to all she meets, while her energy for volunteering inspires other to get involved and make a difference too.
Ava is a tireless volunteer working to support those facing homelessness. As a volunteer in the Clarkston Shelter charity shop for the last two years, she has helped to raise money to address homelessness while helping the charity to provide support for the most vulnerable in society. She is involved in all aspects of the charity shop, including helping with donations, serving customers and designing the display. She always encourages her peers to volunteer as well and inspires others to step up in the community. Ava’s dedication to supporting homeless people is truly inspirational, as is her passion for helping others to have a second chance in life.
Leticia has made a large impact on the lives of many people, especially the young pupils at Douglas Academy. She has been a role model for fellow students since beginning to run the school drama club, which has gone above and beyond to help to improve the confidence of students that attend. She is active in many other areas of school life, and also runs the S4 pupil council to ensure that the problems in the school are seen to by their head of year. She makes sure that students in the school have a voice, helping to create a collaborative and harmonious environment across the school.
Patrick is a dedicated young volunteer who has been giving up his time in his local church and volunteering during the school holidays in the SANDS Lothian charity shop. The money he helps to raise goes directly towards supporting bereaved parents who have lost a baby, something which has been important to Patrick and his family since the death of his cousin. Patrick has accumulated more than 200 volunteering hours and has raised more than £5,000 for various other charities and has volunteered at his church alter serving and counting the collection for more than six years.
Over the last six years Airyn has been on a mission to give the best she can to Douglas Academy through volunteering. Airyn has struggled with her own health and is a carer for her younger siblings, but still manages to find the time and energy to become involved in numerous fundraising activities. She has clocked up an astounding 500 hours of volunteering and has fundraised £2500 for her school. Airyn is an inspirational role model, not only to her fellow students but also her teachers, as she demonstrates the true power of charitable giving.
Esther is a dedicated young activist passionate about fighting for the stigmatised, the under-represented and for the planet. On top of a busy, ambitious teenage schedule of school, ballet, swimming, and more, she manages to use any free time she has to combat issues that society faces and to do her part to make a positive change in the world around her. From homelessness, to mental health – gender equality, to climate change, Esther is a keen activist who knows that you are never too young to make a difference.
When Aislin was diagnosed with a rare brain disease in 2015, she was not expected to live. But since making a miraculous recovery, she has rebuilt her life and learnt to walk and talk again. Inspired by her life-changing experience, Aislin now fundraises tirelessly for the Encephalitis Society and for Epilepsy Scotland. She raises awareness in school for the Brain Trust, inspiring other pupils and encouraging them to get involved in the cause. Aislin was also involved in a national radio campaign to promote Encephalitis and has helped to raise over £1million for this campaign. She is an amazing inspiration, showing the power of young people to change the world.
Ben is a volunteer champion at Lenzie Academy. Through his work on project Malawi Connections, he has raised awareness of the plight of children in Malawi and has raised funds for Lenzie’s partner school in the country. Ben also volunteers outside his school with Lenzie Old Parish Dementia friendly singing group; he is a Scottish Dementia friend and recruits peers and other volunteers to get involved with supporting Dementia patients. Ben’s volunteering work is invaluable for the organisations he supports and leaves a lasting impact for many people.
Once a participant of the Soccer Academy, Kieran now volunteers with the organisation to support young people grow through the programme. In his role as a volunteer, he coaches young people to build their skills and helps them develop in confidence. His natural ability to connect with other young people and cater his coaching for different needs makes him a wonderful asset to the Soccer Academy. Kieran is a wonderful example for other young volunteers and encourages them to make a difference.
Andrew has been a huge asset in promoting the mental health and wellbeing of the pupils at his school. He struggled during his exams and used to find it difficult to ask for help, but after reaching out for support he realised how important it is for young people to talk about their feelings. Since then, he has worked tirelessly and selflessly to promote an accessible service for pupils which supports their mental health. He openly encourages pupils to talk about their feelings and seek help by sharing his own experience, helping to break down barriers and tackle the stigma around mental health.
Emma runs her school’s cookery club, working with younger pupils to give them the skills to make different recipes in a fun and safe environment. As an avid cook herself, she is passionate about nurturing this interest in other young people and giving them practical knowledge about food hygiene and safety which will benefit them in later life. Through her club, she has developed her own skills as a young leader while also supporting others to grow in experience and confidence, helping to build the next generation of young adults.
Amelia is an active volunteer passionate about getting involved in many important causes at Douglas Academy. During her time at the school she has thrown herself into different volunteering activities – from her enthusiasm for improving the environment to helping those less fortunate than herself. Amelia’s outgoing, sunny and persuasive nature have made her an excellent champion for many causes and, through her hard work and ability to work with others, she inspires pupils from across the years to follow her lead as an active citizen.
The Peer Tutor Programme at Coltness High School is an initiative bringing together inspirational pupils to create a support network for those with additional support needs in their school. Through the programme, Peer Tutors assist pupils with their academic studies and support them to access the curriculum and excel in class. Members of the Peer Tutor Programme demonstrate initiative and sensitivity throughout their work and have boosted the confidence of students that need it. Together they have enhanced attainment in their school and created an environment of support and inclusivity for all.
As a group of passionate and enthusiastic fundraisers, the Malawi 2018 group at Williamwood High School have made a lasting improvement to the lives of the pupils of Ekwendeni Primary School in Malawi. To raise money for the school, the group organised a variety of fundraising events including race nights, bag packs, and a Grand Fundraising Ball. Their commitment to fundraising has helped them raise an astounding £34,000 to build a three classroom block in Malawi and to renovate two existing classrooms. Through their work, the group have made an amazing impact overseas, whilst also inspiring other young people to step up and make a difference.
The Downfield Primary School Equalities and Inclusion group have been sector leading in their work around LGBT inclusion within their school and the wider community. Through their work, the group have helped the school to become the first ever primary school in Scotland to achieve an LGBT Charter mark award from LGBT Youth Scotland. The group have been working hard to introduce the de-gendering of disabled and staff toilets, a gender-neutral school uniform policy and the development of an equalities policy. As a group they have changed their anti-bullying policy to reflect the Equalities and Inclusion Act 2010 so that their school is a welcoming place for everyone.
Demonstrating selfless enthusiasm and dedication, The Paired Reading & Wellbeing Champions have inspired over 80 junior pupils to engage with paired reading and wellbeing activities. Through their work they have increased the reading age of pupils, built their self-esteem, promoted positive living and reduced stigma around mental health issues. They have selflessly given up intervals, lunchtimes and after school activities to meet the academic, social and wellbeing needs of vulnerable pupils. Every day they welcome over 20 junior students into their health and wellbeing hub, providing a safe and supportive environment for students to speak openly about their physical and mental health, whilst creating a school-wide policy to improve wellbeing for all.
The S6 Befrienders dedicate two hours each week to befriending an elderly member of the community. This commitment is unswerving, despite other pressures on their time. They foster strong links with their befrienders and routinely ‘go the extra mile’ to help and support members of the community. This can range from helping with basic tasks, ICT advice, or just having a ‘tea and a chat’. The befriending project has a very high profile in Calderglen High School and in the local community, leaving a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of everyone involved.
The Skills for Learning, Life and Work Group have been working tirelessly over the past year on many events which have helped those who are less fortunate. They have participated in Macmillan Coffee Morning, Vintage Afternoon Tea for the elderly, Nursery Party, Homeless Christmas box appeal and a fashion show which raised over £2500. They have also led school assemblies, inspiring younger pupils to get involved in volunteering. These pupils have given so much of their time up both within and out of school to run events to give something back to their local community.
The P7 Prefects have selflessly committed all of their lunch breaks over the past year to help nurture and care for some of the most vulnerable younger students in their school. The P7 Prefects have acted as responsible citizens and effective contributors, going above and beyond the remit of their role as senior prefects to boost the self-esteem and confidence of young pupils. Through support during lunch breaks, the P7 Prefects help these pupils to eat well, interact with their peers and to keep good health and well being. The whole school community has recognised the undoubted impact this has had on the younger children.
Today sees a powerful coalition of organisations representing young voices, formed by The Diana Award, calling for urgent change in how we support young people impacted by racism.
Today the largest contemporary choir in the world, Rock Choir releases a very special music video for The Diana Award recorded at Althorp House in Northamptonshire.
Young people took centre stage at the ‘A Space To Be Me’ celebration event as we celebrated the Young Changemakers Programme.
