By admin - The 2023 edition of Amelia’s Young Highlander Awards (AYHA), set up by Kelly Macrae in honour of her daughter Amelia to recognise inspirational young people in the Highlands and Islands, has launched for nominations today. This year, for the first time, the awards ceremony will be presented by former MFR Breakfast Show presenters Dan and Grace.
AYHA is sponsored by Caley Timber and Building Supplies and will take place at the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness on September 1st. At the awards ceremony, the families of those who have been successful will join Kelly, her family and a team of volunteers, alongside a host of Highland businesses supporting the awards.
The compères for the night will be Dan Gilchrist and Grace Nicoll, former MFR Breakfast Show presenters, who will be taking to the stage in their first live event together since 2022. Live music will be performed by the Electric Cherries and the evening will raise money for Drummond School.
Dan and Grace hosted the MFR Breakfast Show together for four and a half years. Both have recently taken on new roles, Grace with Heart Scotland, and Dan with Edge Radio.
Speaking about the forthcoming awards, Grace said:
“We are thrilled to be hosts of this year’s Amelia’s Young Highlander Awards. Over the years we have seen families struggling with many different aspects of life and it is incredibly powerful when a community gets behind them. This is another example of how there is huge community spirit alive in the Highlands and Amelia and her family are stars in their own right. This is also the first time since the start of 2022 that we have joined together for a live public event, it will be a very special night.”
The categories for AYHA have each been sponsored by a business who will present the award to the Young Highlander on the night and take a table at the event. A number of award categories are still available to be sponsored. Any business interested in sponsoring an award category should contact Kelly on ameliascbu@gmail.com. All awards have been generously donated by Inverness Trophy Centre.
Speaking about the return of Amelia’s Young Highlander Awards, founder Kelly Macrae said:
“I am so excited about this year’s Amelia’s Young Highlander Awards. This year we are raising money for Drummond School, which provides excellent education to my daughter Amelia and many other young people with additional support needs. We also hope to raise money to enable us to continue Amelia’s speech and language therapy with specialists in Harley Street.
“As ever, I am humbled by the generosity of people in the Highlands with local businesses supporting us either through sponsorship or donating prizes. I hope to recognise outstanding Young Highlanders on the night.”
Deserving young people across the Highlands and Islands can be nominated for Amelia’s Young Highlander Awards if they are under 16 years of age. The nomination must be made by a person over 18 and that person must have the consent of the family.
The award categories are as follows:
- Child of Courage Award – available for sponsorship
- Amelia's Keep on Swimming Award – sponsored by Caley Timber and Building Supplies
- Special Sibling Award – available for sponsorship
- Child Fundraiser Award - available for sponsorship
- Child Mentor Award – sponsored by Dicksons of Inverness
- Leo Flett Child of Bravery Award – available for sponsorship
- Child Carer Award – available for sponsorship
- Riley Maclennan Child Warrior Award- sponsored by North Coast Cars
- Child Achievement Award – available for sponsorship
- Child Community Award – available for sponsorship
Dicksons of Inverness is one local business that has supported Amelia’s Young Highlander Awards over the years.
Speaking about the 2023 event, Jim Mackenzie, Sales Director, said:
“Dicksons of Inverness is delighted to support Amelia’s Young Highlander Awards and sponsor a new award for 2023 – the Child Mentor Award, which recognises a teenager who has helped a younger person.”
Now in its fourth year, Amelia’s Young Highlander Awards were created in honour of Amelia by her mum, Kelly Macrae. Amelia was born at 32 weeks, weighing just 3lb and was placed on a ventilator. At age two she was diagnosed with global development delay, at age three she was diagnosed with autism and being non-verbal. During these and other challenges faced by Amelia, Kelly made a promise that for every year of Amelia’s fight, she would fundraise for a charity for her birthday. Amelia’s Young Highlander Awards 2023 will mark Amelia’s ninth birthday.
So far Kelly and her family have raised over £70,000 which has supported Drummond School, NHS Play Specialists, and the Special Care Baby and Renal units at Raigmore Hospital.
Speaking about the support from AYHA, Mark Elvines, Headteacher at Drummond School, added: “Amelia and Amelia’s Young Highlander Awards hold a special place in all our hearts at Drummond School. Last year, we were able to purchase equipment for our pupils to be active outside, including a trampoline that will be installed soon, which has brought so much joy to our pupils. More than that, the evening is a celebration of some very special young people in the Highlands.”
Nominations for the 2023 awards will be judged by a panel made up of representatives from local businesses, many of whom have supported Amelia’s Young Highlander Awards since the beginning.
Other sponsors of AYHA include Aurora Design Studio and Whale-like-fish.
Nominate a young Highlander for an award at https://www.younghighlanderawards.co.uk/vote-now
Businesses interested in sponsoring an award category should contact Kelly on ameliascbu@gmail.com.
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