News
Karolina wins Youth Justice Agency photographic competition (26/03/2009)
Karolina Urbanska was named as the overall winner of the Youth Justice Agency’s photographic competition at a prize giving ceremony in Hillsborough Castle. As part of her prize Karolina, a pupil at Holy Trinity College Cookstown, will now be invited to attend a professional photo-shoot, courtesy of Harrison Photography, to gain first hand experience of the professional press photographer role.Designed to give young people the opportunity to express their ideas about how to reduce youth crime, entrants were asked to capture one of these themes in a photographic image: How to avoid getting into trouble; Staying Safe or; Making your Community a Better Place.
Open to 10 to 17 year olds the competition was run in conjunction with Harrison Photography and attracted many high quality entries from schools and youth clubs acrossNorthern Ireland.
Bill Lockhart, Chief Executive of the Youth Justice Agency sat on the judging panel. He said :“I am delighted to welcome the regional winners to HillsboroughCastle. While much of the Agency’s work deals with addressing the behaviour of young offenders we are also dedicated to supporting projects which help steer young people away from a life of crime. I am very impressed with the standard of entries to the competition and the level of support we have received from local schools and youth clubs.”
Local personality Dan Gordon, better known for his portrayal of Red Hand Luke in the BBC NI comedy “Give My Head Peace”, presented the winners with their prizes of a digital camera and accessories. Dan said: “Throughout my career I have worked with many young people involved in the arts and I am always astounded by the range of talent that exists right across the province. These young people here today are an inspiration to their peers and I hope they can encourage others to help make their communities a better place for all concerned.”
Sponsor of the overall prize John Harrison added: “I was delighted to work in conjunction with the Youth Justice Agency on such a worthwhile project. The standard and creativity of photographs from such a young age group was unbelievable. All the regional winners demonstrated a high degree of talent and it was not an easy decision to choose an overall winner. These young people are all winners in my eyes and I wish them every success with their future photographic ventures.”
Notes to editors
1. The prize giving ceremony took place on 25th March in Hillsborough Castle.
2. The regional winners are:
10-13 age group
- Rebecca Hughes, St Louise’s High School, Belfast
- Caolan Toal, St Brigid’s High School, Armagh
- Ciara Scullion, St Colm’s High School, Draperstown
14-17 age group
- Stephanie Fitzsimons, Dominican College,Belfast
- Rebekah Abraham, Southern Regional College,Armagh
- Eva M Nelson-Caskey, Newtownards
- Eryn Duff, NCBNorthern Ireland, Belfast
- Karolina Urbanska, Holy Trinity College, Cookstown.
3. The winning entry was designed to encourage young people to say “No” to drugs.
4. The overall aim of the Youth Justice Agency is to reduce youth crime and build confidence in the youth justice system. It delivers a range of services, often in partnership with others, to help children address their offending behaviour, divert them from crime, assist their integration into the community, and to meet the needs of victims of crime.
5. Further details on the Youth Justice Agency can be found on its website www.youthjusticeagencyni.gov.uk.
6. For media enquires please contact Gillian Orr on 028 90316406.
<< Go BACK
