Derry Credit Union - Leadership Award 2024

The Derry Credit Union Young People’s Awards took place on Monday, 25th March, in the City Hotel.

The awards scheme, now in its 19th year, recognizes the outstanding work, accomplishments, courage, and generosity of our local young people. It is open to all aged from 11 through 18 who live or attend school in the BT47 and BT48 post code areas.

This year, 90 nominations were received from 10 post-primary schools, sporting teams, family, and friends. 17 individuals and 7 groups were recognized as runners-up or winners across 8 award categories.

Congratulations to all the nominees, runners-up, and winners.

IN PICTURES: Celebrations at Derry Credit Union Young People’s Awards

Well done to the Derry Credit Union Youth Committee for their superb hosting skills. And thank you to all the nominators without whom the awards could not take place.

Leadership Award Winner – Reuben Conor

Leadership Award Winner Reuben Connor is a year 10 pupil in the Autism Specific Classroom of St Joseph’s Boys School. Since Year 8, he has blossomed from a shy and quiet boy who struggled academically at times to become a confident pupil who is top in his class in most of his mainstream classes. He has grown into a very friendly sociable boy who is liked by all in the school.

Reuben is a shining example of leadership both in his mainstream classes and in the Autism Specific Classroom. He exemplifies hard work, commitment, and good manners. A Prefect of the Autism Specific Class, he is a past winner of the St Joseph's Award for his work ethic. He helps both the younger boys in the Autism Specific Classroom and in his mainstream classes with their work when they are struggling. He is also the first to notice if any boy in the school is upset and tries to help them or let an adult know that they are upset.

On the side, Reuben has a passion for trains and buses. He launched his own YouTube channel ‘Bus and Train Spotter NI’ which has attracted a few hundred subscribers. Here he posts footage he films himself of buses and trains. His passion for his hobby led to him achieving an NI Road Safety award for his work with Translink.

For these many reasons, Reuben was recognised with a Leadership Award.

Leadership Award Winner - Rights Respecting Ambassadors

Formed as a group in September 2023, the Rights Respecting Ambassadors of Thornhill College received a Leadership Award for their passion and commitment to placing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child at the core of their school’s ethos and ensure that rights are respected, learned, taught, practiced, and promoted by and for all. They received the UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools Bronze Award in December and are now working towards the Silver Award.

Highlights of their work this year include hosting the Northern Ireland Children’s Rights Commissioner for a town hall style meeting, leading the school in monthly ‘rights focused’ assemblies, delivering a month-long celebration of International Women’s Rights in March, working on a “21st Century Suffragettes” campaign to get everyone over the age of 16 registered to vote, and working with the Northern Ireland Anti-Bullying Alliance to become Anti-Bullying Ambassadors.

Despite their hard work and commitment, they do not seek glory or reward for their role. Instead, they lead because they see the opportunity to help others.

Leadership Award Runner-Up – James Tourish

St Columb’s College pupil James Tourish was a runner-up in the Leadership Award category for a host of reasons. His accomplishments are impressive and include Winner of LifeWorks 2023 essay, member of The Net's Young Writer's Team, Head Prefect of St Columb's College, featured in the Irish Times in a piece about Education on the Troubles, and delivering a speech at John and Pat Hume Foundation 'Making Hope and History Rhyme' event at which US President Bill Clinton was in attendance.

James has a strong belief in doing and saying what is right, even in the face of adversity. He leads by example in all aspects of school life, particularly in terms of spiritual leadership both inside and outside of school.

Leadership Award Runners-Up – Environmental Group, St Cecilia’s College

The focus of Leadership Award runners-up the St Cecilia’s College Environmental Group is to establish robust recycling habits and reduce textile waste.

The group organised their ‘Swap with Style’ initiative for the All-Ireland Eco- UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards as a response to the environmental and ethical impact of fast fashion. ‘Swap with Style’ is a series of swap shops where staff and pupils can exchange items of high-quality clothing.

Leadership Award Runners-up, seated, from left, are Olivia Cox, Daisy Collins, Caoimhe Wilson and James Tourish. Standing, from left, are Joan Gallagher, Derry Credit Union CEO, Maisy Delaney, Tony Bradley, Amanda Johnston (guest speaker, Social Enterprise NI). (Photos: Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)

Their first swap show was so successful that two more swap shops are planned this academic year and it is the group’s hope that other schools will follow suit.

Swap with Style is through to the Young Environmentalist Awards semifinals in Armagh, and the group hope to reach the finals in Dublin in May.