The Laois Offaly Garda Division in association with Supermac’s are delighted to announce the launch of the 2nd Laois Offaly Garda Youth Awards.
The awards celebrate outstanding young people between the ages of 13 and 21 years.
Laois Offaly Gardaí along with Supermacs recognise that a lot of good work is being done by young people in every community throughout both counties, which should be awarded.
Awards will be considered for nominated young people who by their presence make their communities a better place to live.
There will be three individual District Award Winners, two from each area of Birr, Portlaoise Tullamore, along with one Special Achievement Award, which is open to any young person who has defied the odds, or overcome difficult circumstances and whose commitment deserves recognition.
In addition, there will be one overall winner of the Laois Offaly Garda Youth Awards for 2020, one Voluntary Group Achievement Award, which is open to nominations of two or more young people whose combined efforts have contributed positively to their communities and one Community Safety Award, which recognises an individual or group who has made their community a safer place to live.
The judging panel will decide upon one nominee in each category to go forward to represent the division at the National Garda Youth Awards, which take place in 7th February 2020.
In launching this year’s awards, Chief Superintendent John Scanlan Laois-Offaly Garda Division remarked: “This is our second Laois Offaly Youth Awards which was hugely successful in 2018/2019.
“It is a great source of delight and pride for all of us in An Garda Síochána to meet these amazing young people who are an inspiration to us all.
“I would like to pay special thanks to Supermacs for their support. We often underestimate the worth of our youth who are both innovative and important to our future.
“It is important to recognize their excellence in the area of sports, arts, culture, charities or caring for a relative or friend.
“We were humbled to meet a large group of young people who are carrying out work in their communities, have overcome adversity and have a positive impact on people’s lives.
“The awards have a positive effect on our wider community. I would like to pay special thanks to Supermac’s for their support.”
Pat McDonagh said: “Supermac’s are delighted to support the Laois Offaly Garda Youth Awards.
“We come into contact with thousands of young people on a daily basis in Supermac’s outlets and see many examples of social awareness and considerate behaviour among them.
“This is our second year involved with the Laois/Offaly Garda Youth Awards. Last year’s awards were a huge success and the standard of the winners at National level is testament to that.
“Supermac’s appreciates the opportunity to work closely with the Gardaí on such a constructive and vital project which promotes pride and awareness among young people.”
Nominations are now open and entry forms can be collected from your local Garda Station, Supermacs or downloaded here or from the Laois Offaly Garda Division Facebook Page
The application form is available to download from www.garda.ie, An Garda Siochana Laois Offaly Facebook page and from www.supermacs.ie. Application forms are also available from any Laois & Offaly Garda Stations or any Supermacs in Laois or Offaly.
Forms must be completed in full and returned by post, hand delivered to your Garda Station by the 16th December 2019 for the attention of:
- Garda Derek Flynn, Laois Juvenile Liaison Officer, Portlaoise Garda Station 0578674100
- Garda Eoin Everard, Juvenile Liaison Officer, Portlaoise Garda Station, 0578674100
Garda Robert Fahy, Offaly Juvenile Liaison Officer, Tullamore Garda Station 0579327052 - Sergeant David Scahill, Community Policing Unit, Tullamore Garda Station, 0579327052
- Garda Eoin Gardiner, Community Policing, Portlaoise Garda Station 0578674100
Garda Grace Heffernan, Community Policing, Birr Garda Station 0579169710
Alternatively completed forms can be emailed to laoisoffalygardayouthawards@garda.ie before midnight.
The award winners will be celebrated at a special event at Killeshin Hotel, Portlaoise on 7th February 2020.
