The search is on in Kilkenny for our young local heroes for garda youth awards

The search is on to find young people in our communities who have gone the extra mile in an extraordinary way and to nominate them for a garda youth award.

The third Kilkenny/Carlow Divisional Garda Youth Awards in association with Netwatch and supported by Kilkenny and Carlow local authorities celebrate outstanding young people between the ages of 13 and 21 years has been launched and is open for nominations.

Local gardaí and Netwatch recognise that a lot of excellent work is being done by young people in all our communities and want to acknowledge these ordinary young people doing extraordinary things.

Awards will be considered for nominated young people who by their presence make their communities a better place to live in.
The award categories are:

Individual Award, Group Award, Community Safety Award and a Special Achievement Award. In
addition, there is a District Award presented for each Garda District within the Kilkenny/Carlow
Garda Division – Thomastown, Kilkenny and Carlow.

The Individual Award  is for individuals making a positive contribution to their community while the Group Award  is open to a group of two or more, who through their own initiative are making it a better place to live.

The Community Safety Award  is aimed at recognising a crime prevention or safety initiative or innovation, have made their community a safer place to live and the Special Achievement Award of for someone who has overcome difficult circumstances and defied all the odds and whose commitment deserves recognition.

Netwatch Brand Ambassador, Mick Galwey said that the awards instill great confidence in young people.

“This is our third year to be involved in this great initiative. I’m lucky enough to participate in many community events around the country and the ones that honour the younger generation are always the most inspirational.

“These awards instil great confidence in these young people, letting them know that their actions count and really can make a difference,” he said.

The winners from each category will come together at an awards ceremony in May 2023 to be presented with their awards. They will also be submitted to the national judging panel, which selects a national winner for each category for the Garda National Youth Awards.

Separately, everyone nominated will receive a certificate acknowledging their nomination and recognising their valuable contribution to their communities.

Any member of the public can submit a nomination and are encouraged to do so to recognise the valuable contribution of youths in our communities.

Nomination forms are now available from Garda stations in the Kilkenny/Carlow Garda Division, or you can submit your nomination at this kk-cw-gyouthawards.com/enter.

Nomination forms will also be distributed by the community gardaí in each local Garda District.

Any queries can be directed to: Kilkennycarlow.gardayouthawards@garda.ie and forms can also be obtained from this address.

The closing date for the applications is Friday, April 28.

Application forms are to be submitted: online through link provided on Garda Division and Netwatch Facebook pages or following the relevant QR code.