Young Scotland Programme 2007

The summer course of the Young Scotland Programme, organised by the Institute of Contemporary Scotland, took place at the North West Castle Hotel in Stranraer in June. Twenty-nine delegates took part in an intensive four-day programme which combined debate, dialogue and speeches.

On the final night, awards were presented by Jimmy Reid to:

Young Scotland Programme Winner Maria Kicinski with Jimmy Reid

Winner (Jimmy Reid Medal)
Maria Kicinski
Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
Adjudication: Drawing on her courtroom experiences, Maria examined with forensic skill the true nature of reality, exposing the sham of reality television as an escape from reality. It was a powerful argument, detailed with many telling examples, and delivered with tremendous feeling.

Runner-up
Sean Wattegedera
Moredun Research Institute

Highly commended
Andy Craig
East Dunbartonshire Council

Commended
Emma Carmichael
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Melissa Kilpatrick
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland




Award for outstanding promise (Elizabeth Innes Award)
Jemma McNally

Discussion group of the week
Group D: Veronika Kallus, Kris McGenily, Gail Rogerson, Michael Shrimpton, Elizabeth Stark, Vivien Watt

The autumn course of the Young Scotland Programme was a landmark event, commemorating the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the programme in November 2002. Thirty-seven delegates took part.

On the final night awards were presented by Tessa Ransford to:

Winner (Jimmy Reid Medal)
Michael Mitton
Findhorn Foundation
Adjudication: Michael brought presentational skill, lyrical descriptive power and a sense of urgency to his appeal for "elegant solutions" to the biggest challenge of our time, climate change.

Group A: the winning group on the autumn 2007 Young Scotland Programme

Runner-up
Elaine McGhee
Strathclyde Police

Highly commended
James Steel
Scottish Government

Commended
Gianna Cassidy
Glasgow Caledonian University
Andrew McKerns
Glasgow City Council

Award for outstanding promise
Vicky Boslem
Falkirk Council

Spirit of the Programme award
Paul Boylan
Scottish Government

Discussion group of the week
Group A: Paul Boylan, Elaine McGhee, Michael Mitton, Hala el Ousta