Dumfriesshire youth worker honoured lifetime achievement award

AFTER more than 30 years supporting young people, Dumfries and Galloway Council youth officer Ian Donaldson has been honoured with a prestigious lifetime achievement award.

Mr Donaldson, the council’s youth strategy officer, has contributed to the lives of more than a thousand young people and influenced a considerable number of youth workers with his enthusiasm and passion in Dumfriesshire.

His award at the YouthLink national conference was presented by John Swinney MSP, Minister for Finance.

The citation for his award said: “Ian has worked tirelessly on behalf of young people for more than 30 years. His main goal has been to change the way young people are viewed, to give them a voice, and to encourage and support them to their full potential.”

In a varied career, Ian has worked with young people on the likes of youth centres, detached youth work, youth information services and the council’s youth strategy executive group.

He has also worked in schools and headed up a community-based team for young people in the social work system.

Congratulating him on his award, the council’s resources committee chairman, Peter Duncan said: “It’s my pleasure to be able to congratulate Ian Donaldson. His enthusiasm, passion, commitment and dedication are rightly recognised in this lifetime achievement award.

“From the evidence gathered for the nomination, it’s clear that the young people and colleagues with whom he works are well aware of Ian’s qualities and hold him in high esteem.”