Nominated for the Young Volunteer of The Year award is 18-year old Jade Heron. Jade joined Police Scotland Youth Volunteers when she was 13-years old, and since then her volunteer story has seen her being involved in various PSYV projects, conferences, talks, winning awards and promoted to Head YV.

Jade is particularly recognised for being an active volunteer, passionate about supporting the organisation and spreading its efforts. For instance, she has attended numerous events via the PSYV National Team and spoken to audiences many would not be comfortable enough to; discussing her PSYV experience at Tulliallan and Abertay University.  Jade is a 2^nd year student at Abertay University and has even promoted the organisation in her studies, making a documentary about the benefits of PSYV as part of her coursework.

These experiences, as well as others, have demonstrated excellent leadership skills from Jade, many of which have inspired others and helped the community. Jade is also a peer educator and has taken the lead on PSYV’s largest Peer Education project in Scotland – ‘No Knives, Better Lives’. She helped design the workshop as well as train her peers to deliver the message, which has received positive appraisal. As well as taking the lead in PSVY projects, Jade’s personality often inspires others; she commits to every evening session whilst remaining bubbly and encouraging towards others. This has made her a popular and well known Youth Volunteer, which was recognised at the 2017 National Competition for achievement and Dundee’s Evening Telegraph where she was awarded Inspirational Youth of 2017.

Jade has continued to be dedicated to PSYV by carrying on with her hard work as an adult volunteer since turning 18. Overall she is seen as a great ambassador for PSYV and a good nominee for Young Volunteer of The Year. We wish you luck Jade!

Rachel – Media Volunteer at Volunteer Dundee