AFTER contributing nearly 900 hours to supporting communities in West Fife, the Dunfermline Police Scotland Youth Volunteers were worthy winners of the Stagecoach-sponsored Youth Community Champion award at the Dunfermline Press Community Champion Awards 2023.
The team – which is made up of 20 youth and 12 adult volunteers – has taken part in a wide range of events and activities in the last 12 months.
Led by PC Scott Morgan, the volunteers have been enrolled as part-time students at Fife College at Halbeath and participate in weekly sessions every Tuesday evening.
During these sessions all youth volunteers completed the PSYV initial 10-week training programme, learning fundamentals of volunteering and key policing approaches to community engagement.
Among the initiatives they have been involved in is the Stand Against Speeding School Tour which has involved them enlisting 23 primary schools in West Fife – and over 200 pupils – to take a stand outside their respective schools to send a clear message to drivers to 'SLOW DOWN... SAVE LIVES'.
The campaign was promoted through Police Scotland and participating schools' social media feeds and covered in the Dunfermline Press.
From October to December last year, the PSYVs were on hand to support the National Housebreaking Awareness Campaign, Operation Nightlight.
They were deployed in teams on various evenings across various areas including Duloch, Alderston, Townhill, Pitcorthie and Crossford and delivered home security leaflets to properties that were in complete darkness and vulnerable to crimes of dishonesty.
READ MORE: Winners of the Dunfermline Press Community Champion awards
They have also taken part in litter picks, are trained volunteers in Community Speed Watch and have been involved in many other initiatives and have provided support at different events taking place in the area.
Among those to pick up the trophy were Macy Chatham, 14, who attends Inverkeithing High, Madison Macgregor, 17, who is at Dunfermline High, and Queen Anne High pupils Holly Kulik, 14, and Forrest Hurles, 16.
After being named champions, Macy said: "It means so much. We like giving back to our community and this award gives us the recognition for doing that.
READ MORE: Celebrations for the Dunfermline Press Little Champions of the Year
"It feels amazing. It is such a great achievement and we are so grateful that our commitment to the community is being recognised.
"We love doing it. We love giving back to the community."
You can read more about all our winners on the Dunfermline Press website over the next few days and in this Thursday's paper.
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