Local youth workers take home the win

The Garnock Valley Locality team are celebrating after local youth workers Aimee Mason and Jessica Parker brought the win home for North Ayrshire at the national YouthLink Scotland Awards.

Held annually, the awards ceremony in Glasgow is a chance to shine a spotlight on Scotland’s youth work heroes, celebrating those on the frontline who are creating safe and accessible spaces and supporting young people to fulfil their potential and find their voice.

University of the West of Scotland Graduate Aimee and University of Strathclyde student Jess were nominated by the Garnock Valley Locality team for their ten years involvement in youth work across North Ayrshire.

Starting out as participants and progressing to volunteers within the Garnock Valley Youth Forum, the dynamic duo are now leading groups independently that have made a sustained and meaningful impact on local young people.

In particular, Aimee and Jess have built strong, positive relationships with young people across the Garnock Valley through their youth work delivery over the past five years. Their leadership has strengthened youth participation in the Youth Forum and Youth Synergy groups, helping young people grow in knowledge, confidence, and community involvement. As a result, young people’s voices are now heard locally and nationally.

Both Aimee and Jess have also contributed voluntarily to the “Our Garnock Valley” Place Plan, ensuring that young people’s views are represented within wider community planning.

Supporting mainly S1 and S2 youth groups as well as Garnock Valley Youth Forum and Synergy Group, Aimee and Jess have also been passionate about providing local support. Their input has helped embed youth perspectives into future development priorities for the area and they have also been at the forefront of a series of Cost-of-Living projects in the Garnock Valley and surrounding areas.

They did this by identifying funding to ensure that hot food and snacks could be provided at the groups they delivered and set up a school uniform and preloved clothing swap shop – New To You, at the Walker Hall in Kilbirnie. This has since inspired local primary and secondary schools to do the same.

Heather McVie Branley, their Garnock Valley colleague shares: " We are absolutely delighted at last night’s win! Aimee and Jess are an absolute pleasure to work alongside, always professional, always striving to provide the best youth work experience for the young people we engage.

“Their enthusiasm, creativity, commitment and leadership influences youth work practice, supports young people’s development, and their progression. They have grown through this journey of Community Learning and Development together. From young participants to volunteers to colleagues, Aimee and Jess have contributed to collective growth, strong leadership, and meaningful impact in their community."

Aimee Mason who will soon begin a Post-Grad in Community Education at The University of Glasgow, shares: "It is an honour to be recognised for the work I feel so passionately about! I'm proud to be part of so many young people's lives, being able to support them, and helping them achieve their best. In doing so, providing a safe space for them to express themselves is at centre of what we are all about!"

Jess who is studying Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at The University of Strathclyde adds: “It felt unreal to be a finalist, so to have now won means everything to us! Youth work has had a massive impact on me, and when given the opportunity to be a youth worker, I hoped to give the young people I worked with the same brilliant experience I had. It means a lot to me to be nominated for doing the work Aimee and I do, never mind us coming out on top as the overall winners, I can’t believe it!"

Visit the YouthLink Scotland website to learn more about the awards and other nominees.

Keep updated on news, youth groups and opportunities near you by following North Ayrshire Youth Work on Facebook.

Find out more about what is happening in your area on our website.

Published: 05 June 2026