An Inverness based charity working with young people from challenging backgrounds, has received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service – the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK.
It recognises excellence and outstanding achievement by groups of volunteers who regularly devote their time to improving the quality of life and opportunity for others in the community.
Day1 sets up one-to-one mentoring relationships between young people in serious need and a suitable adult mentor. The mentoring relationship lasts for one year at the end of which the young person should be more independent, more focused and more able to live an independent life fulfilling their potential.
Day1 operations director Corrin Henderson and long term mentor Donna Law will tomorrow attend a celebration of voluntary services for award winners at Buckingham Palace.
He said: “What is especially rewarding is that it was the young people with whom we work and partners in the community who nominated us up for this award.
“This is a wonderful boost not only for the young people themselves but also for our dedicated army of volunteer mentors, without whom Day1 would not exist.”
Another reason why Day1 gained the coveted Queen’s Award involves their entrepreneurial activity in setting up a social enterprise business, Inverness Kart Raceway.
Mr Henderson said: “It will be the first purpose built indoor go-karting arena in Inverness. As a social enterprise it will be run as a fully functioning business but all profits will go to supporting Day1’s work.
“We should be opening our doors in less than a year from now and, with the public already showing a lot of interest in our plans,.”
He added that they would like to appeal to the community for ongoing voluntary and financial support or raceway sponsors.
Ms Law said: “I have mentored five young people now and it continues to be one of the most rewarding things I do. The change you see in the young people warms the heart and, with a combination of care, consistency, genuine interest and the occasional bit of ‘tough talking’, we seem to be able to help them move from a very negative place to one where their heads are up and they are focused on building positive futures. I love it.”