The Outstanding Young Persons Awards 2007

Sponsored by Morton Fraser

"The Outstanding Young Persons Awards 2007" (TOYP) was the most inspirational JCI event that I have attended to date. Held on the 7th June the evening organised by JCI Scotland was hosted by BBC Scotland Presenter Louise Stewart. It served to recognise individuals between the ages of 18 to 40 who exemplified the best attributes of the world's young people in a variety of fields such as entrepreneurial accomplishment and personal improvement.

Those honoured included the first Scot to reach the North and South Poles, Craig Mathieson and Julia Boxer Edinburgh's only texting and emailing volunteer with the Samaritans. At the award dinner I was fortunate to have at my table Fraser Doherty and Jamie Andrew. Fraser Doherty is the teenage entrepreneur who has gone from cooking jam in his mum's kitchen to winning a major contract with Waitrose. Earlier in the day Fraser had given two inspirational speeches to young people one of which had been in London and at the dinner he discussed his future plans which are that he has now got his sights set on getting deals with other supermarkets. Jamie Andrew is a mountaineer who survived being trapped on top of a mountain for five nights in the French Alps, although his climbing partner died. His hypothermia and frostbite from the experience resulted in the amputation of his hands and feet. Since then he has gone on to be a motivational speaker with his inspiring story of how he has gone back to climbing. It felt very inspiring speaking with such amazing people who at the same time were so down to earth.

Other entrepreneurial award honourees included Mike Welch who had set up blackcircles.com an innovative way of selling tyres and Michelle Mone of MJM International. For me the event which had the theme Be Better showed just how much amazing work is being done by Scottish young people much of which receives little recognition. One winner who had never been recognised was Stephen Joyce of Deafblind Scotland who has trained 21 000 people to have a basic understanding of deafblindness despite facing the fact he is slowly going blind himself. The award winners now go forward to international awards and with the high quality of Scottish entrants I am sure that there will be further award success for these outstanding young people.

More photos of the event are available at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/LesleyFowlerJCIE/TOYP2007