Background

The Truth about Youth PoSBO (Positive Social Behaviour Order) Awards, now in their fifth year, celebrate and recognise the hard work undertaken by young people in their local communities.

The awards are hosted annually by Truth about Youth – North East, The Co-operative Foundation’s five year project across the North East region, being run in partnership with Youth Focus: North East, a charity in Gateshead that works across the region to improve the lives of young people.

The idea behind the PoSBO Awards was first developed by Yorkshire Housing in order to demonstrate that young people can do good things in their community and that society shouldn’t label them all as anti-social; providing a balanced view away from the ASBO (Anti-Social Behaviour Order) image of young people.

This year’s awards evening will take place on Thursday 11 December 2013 at the BALTIC in Gateshead.

There are eight awards this year - individuals and groups working with young people across the North East are encouraged to apply. Winners of each category will receive an award, with all shortlisted nominees involved in the ceremony also receiving a token of achievement.

How to Apply

Making a nomination

Organisations and projects can nominate an individual or group of young people aged 11-25 from their own, or another, organisation / project.

The individual, organisation or project must have carried out their work in the North East region.

The nomination can only refer to work undertaken in 2014. A separate application form must be submitted for each award you are nominating

for. The judges’ decision is final and no feedback will be provided on submissions.

Hints and tips for applying

When completing your application, please ensure you stay within the word limit for each question. You should consider the following points when writing your application:

How does the nominee fit within the award description?

What makes the application stand out?

What results and outcomes have been achieved?

Have innovative methods been used?

Have you given tangible examples of their work and how they have made a positive difference?

How will supporting documents capture the project or individual’s best qualities?

You must add two additional materials to support your application. Your nomination will not be considered unless it is accompanied by these materials.

One supporting material must be a high-resolution photograph (at least 300kb in size, in jpeg format – for individuals, please also identify who is being nominated if they feature in a group picture)

The second can be a DVD, poster / flyer, online blog, case studies, YouTube link, media coverage etc – something that illustrates the nominee’s work.

The Awards

Intergenerational Award:

This award is for a group or project working with different generations that has made a positive impact within their community, helping to challenge negative stereotypes. The group’s hard work will demonstrate the effective involvement of younger and older generations in the planning, development and delivery of the project.

Best Youth Project:

This award is for the youth project that has made outstanding achievements in 2014, developing young people’s skills, confidence and offering new opportunities. The project will stand out from the rest, be unique, exciting and fun.

Young Volunteer Award:

This award is for an inspirational young person who has given up their personal time to make a positive difference to the lives of others. Their volunteering work will demonstrate commitment, motivation and passion, and will have also enhanced their local community in some way.

Young Voice Award:

This award is for a young person who has shown exceptional leadership skills within a project, school, community, forum etc, successfully representing the voice of their peers. Young leaders are positive role models for others, not only for young people but adults and members of the community.

Youth Bravery Award:

This award is for a courageous young person who has overcome personal barriers or challenges to make a stand against an issue affecting others in their community; who has challenged negative stereotypes within wider society, or who has undertaken a lifesaving act.

Best in School Award:

This award is for a North East school which has been innovative in its approach and has made a positive contribution within the community. It will offer young people the opportunity to learn and develop in a different way and will tackle issues affecting those in and around their school setting.

Carer of the Year:

This award is for a young person or group who has dedicated their time to care for someone in need. They will have demonstrated an act of kindness and made a tangible, lasting impact on those they have cared for.

Digital Media Award:

This award is for a project that has created exciting opportunities for young people to get involved in youth media; helping to nurture their creativity, passion and talent. The work will be digital based, for example a website, app or blog, and will have projected a positive image of young people within the wider community.

Application Form

Contact details (person making nomination):

Name: _________________________________________________

Organisation: _________________________________________________

Email: _________________________________________________

Telephone: _________________________________________________

Who are you nominating? (Tick appropriate box)

A group or project An individual young person

Nominee contact details:

Name: _________________________________________________

Age(s): _________________________________________________

Area where they live: __________________________________________________

Organisation/project: _________________________________________________

Email: _________________________________________________

Telephone: _________________________________________________

What award are you nominating for? (Tick appropriate box)

Intergenerational Award Best Youth Project Young Volunteer Award Young Voice Award Youth Bravery Award Best in School Award Carer of the Year Digital Media Award

How did you hear about the PoSBO Awards?

Youth Focus: North East website Youth Focus: North East e-newsletter Twitter Facebook In the media (newspapers, websites etc) Other – please specify _______________________________

How long has the individual / group been in this role?

What are the main achievements of the individual, group or project? (No more than 200 words)

What makes the individual, group or project truly stand out? (No more than 200 words)

What challenges have they faced and how have they overcome them? (No more than 200 words)

Please use this space to describe why you think this individual, group or project deserves the award? (No more than 200 words)

Application Checklist

Nominee contact details

Your contact details

Award you are nominating for

Two copies of your application sent

Additional documents (two separate items)

Remember these documents cannot be returned so please do not send originals.

Please send all completed forms to:

Louise PattersonYouth Focus: North EastDesign WorksWilliam Street, FellingGateshead, NE10 0JPEmail: louise@youthfocusne.org.uk Tel: 0191 440 4410

Application Deadline: Friday 7 November 2014

The Judging Process

The judging panel will include:

Two young people A member of The Co-operative Group Representative from Youth Focus: North East

The panel will make a shortlist of all nominations and may ask for more information from each shortlisted nominee. They will then choose a winner and runner up in each category.

Important Dates:

Application deadline: Friday 7 November 2014Shortlisting: Tuesday 11 November 2014Confirmation of event attendance: Friday 28 November 2014PoSBO Awards Ceremony: Thursday 11 December 2014

Additional Information:

The PoSBO Awards is a free event with food, entertainment and refreshments being provided. No alcohol will be available at this event, as the majority of the audience will be young people.

Each shortlisted individual can attend with two guests. Each shortlisted group will be allocated six spaces; larger groups can get in touch about extra spaces.

Winners will be expected to take part in press activity i.e have their photograph taken on the night and provide comment for use in press releases issued by Youth Focus: North East. Organisations and projects may issue their own PR about the awards but must liaise with our Communications Officer first before any press releases, photos etc are issued to the media.

Contact Details:

Website: www.youthfocusne.org.ukTel: 0191 440 4410