Newry and Mourne District Council

18th December 2009

Newry and Mourne Community Safety Partnership are now in their third successive year of running the Youth Awards Competition. The Youth Awards Competition is used to give young people from across the Newry and Mourne area a platform to voice their opinions on issues relating to Community Safety. Newry and Mourne Community Safety Partnership feel that the competition is an excellent way to engage with the youth of the district as well as providing them with the opportunity to explore important themes.

The competition is aimed at young people who live or go to school in the Newry and Mourne area. There are three categories each for primary and secondary school students to choose from. Students are asked to think about their chosen topic and then to convey their messages via 6 scenes depicted on storyboard with accompanying straplines to provide explanation. Prizes this year for the competition include Nintendo DS’s, digital cameras and portable DVD players. Overall winners will have their storyboards made into film clips, which will then appear on the Community Television plasma screens. These plasma screens are in various locations across the district. Entries will be judged on innovation, relevance and ability to be translated into film.

The Chairman of Newry and Mourne Community Safety Partnership, Mr Martin Mc Dade said the competition has grown dramatically and last year they had received over 600 applicants. Mr Mc Dade commented on previous competition winners and said that they were reflective of the high level of creativity amongst young people throughout the area. He also said that it was important to get the younger generation to think of issues relating to crime, anti social behaviour and fear of crime. Mr Mc Dade encouraged young people from throughout the area to enter and concluded by saying that he was looking forward to seeing the entries for the competition this year.

Closing date for entries is 5pm,Tuesday 12th January 2010. Entries should be returned to Community Safety Youth Competition, Newry and Mourne Community Safety Partnership, 9 Monaghan Court Business Park, Monaghan Street, Newry, BT35 6BH.

For further information on the competition or to receive an entry pack, please contact Community Safety Manager, Newry and Mourne District Council, Tel: 028 3031 3031.