Estelle Maskame – Peterhead, Aberdeenshire
Author Estelle Maskame has gained more than 4 million fans around the world with her stories of teenage romance set in America. Her ‘Did I Mention I Love You?’ trilogy tells the story of Eden and Tyler, a Portland girl and Santa Monica boy who fall in love. At just 18, Estelle is already being compared to JK Rowling, after her online novel went viral.
Jai NicAllen – Dundee
Jai campaigns on transgender issues and is an advocate for trans people living in their hometown of Dundee. Jai took a leading role in setting up a Facebook community group called Dundee Trans Collective, which brings together trans people from across the city to share experiences, events, and opportunities.
Brynja Duthi – Cupar, Fife
After losing a number of close people in her life, Brynja has raised thousands of pounds for various charities supporting numerous causes.
Junior Climate Challenge Fund Grant Panel, across Scotland
This youth panel have been busy advising the Scottish Government about which environmental projects around Scotland deserve funding. The seven-strong group have awarded £900,000 of funding to 13 inspirational youth-led projects taking local action on climate change.
Alice Bowman – Blairgowrie, Perth & Kinross
Last year, trainee office worker Alice travelled to Cambodia to volunteer at a home for men and boys with mental and physical disabilities, some suffering HIV.
Gordon Reid – Helensburgh
Gordon Reid has battled through struggles to become the Australian Open wheelchair tennis champion for 2016.
Cameron and Duncan Hendry – Balquhidder, Stirlingshire
When the boys’ dad, Dave, died of a heart attack on Christmas day, 2014, Cameron quit school and postponed his dreams of college and travelling the world, to take on the running of the family farm in the Stirlingshire hills. Within hours of his father’s death, the brave teenager was out on the land tending to the animals, determined not to let mum Marianne and younger brother Duncan lose the livelihood their beloved dad had worked so hard to build up. The 18-year-old, who is incredibly resilient and mature for his age, couldn’t have done it all without the help of Duncan, who is still at school and hoping to become a vet.
Flora Shedden – Dunkeld, Perth & Kinross
The 19-year-old former gallery assistant is the youngest contestant ever to make it to the semi-finals of the Great British Bake Off. Her success in the baking programme prompted her to give up her Art History studies at St Andrews University to concentrate on writing a cook book, which is due out later this year.
Finlay Macdonald – Glenshiel, Kyle of Lochalsh
The teenager runs luxury chocolate business Chocolates of Glenshiel from his Highland home and sells his soft-centred confectionary at local trade fairs, in school and online. Finlay set up his tasty enterprise three years ago after doing work experience in a local hotel, where he discovered a passion for all things chocolate.
Craig McHugh – Cowdenbeath, Fife
When Craig’s mum passed away, he had to grow up quickly and settled into a role of joint carer for his two younger brothers and as a pillar of support for his dad. Craig has worked hard to create his own opportunities, achieving top grades.
Pilmeny Youth Centre’s ‘Remembering the Leith Battalion’ Project – Edinburgh
A group of pupils from Leith Academy played a key role in Pilmeny Youth Centre’s project to commemorate the casualties of the Quintinshill Rail Disaster of 1915. The train crash at 6.50am on May 22 killed 216 of the Leith-based 7th Battalion the Royal Scots Territorial Force, who were heading to Liverpool before sailing for the front line at Gallipoli. Last year marked the 100th anniversary and the project, spearheaded by the young people, highlighted the tragedy that robbed Leith of a whole generation of men.
Jenny Cook – Stewartfield, East Kilbride
After having her bowel removed aged just five “Wee Jenny” became determined to improve life for fellow sufferers of Ulcerative Colitis. Seven years on, she has raised an incredible £111,000 for Yorkhill Hospital Children’s Charity and the Catherine McEwan Foundation Crohn’s charity.
Jenny is not only our Health winner but is also our overall winner of the #YSAwards16!
You can see all our winners stories as well as those of our other fantastic finalists here:
