Youth Action Network saw out the Year of the Volunteer in style with a glamorous celebration event at the Mailbox in Birmingham on Thursday 19th January. Around 80 young people and workers from Youth Action Network member projects all over the country made the trip to Birmingham for the event and it was a night to remember! The event aimed to thank everyone who’s helped us during 2005, young people and organisations alike.

All the entries to the Young WhipperSNAPPER photo competition were displayed in a gallery along with other photographic highlights from the Year.

Attendees at the event were treated to delicious food and drinks, film presentations, speeches from young volunteers, a classical guitar recital, a DJ set and a very special performance by Lhamea, singer and Diana, Princess of Wales award winner, all in an amazing venue.

One of the highlights of the night was the announcement of the overall winners of the Young WhipperSNAPPER competition. Jamie Fry, a Pictures Editor from Channel 4 television and Youth Action Network volunteer, announced the category winners (who each walked away with a top of the range digital camera and canvas print of their photo), followed by the overall winners.

The overall winner in the Under 18s category was Ban-Ruo Li from Brighton & Hove Millennium Volunteers. Ban-Ruo wins a camera, canvas print AND four days work experience at the Guardian Newspaper, with a chance to get one of his pictures printed in the paper!

The overall winner in the Over 18s category was the YouthPoint Young People’s Steering Group. As a group, they win a camera, canvas print AND two weeks work experience in Channel 4’s Picture Department, including a chance to go on a photo shoot with a professional photographer.

Both nominating agencies (Brighton & Hove MV and YouthPoint) will receive a choice of top quality prizes – a colour printer or website consultancy worth £500!

So if you didn’t enter the competition this year, why not?! And don’t forget to watch this space for details of Young WhipperSNAPPER 2006!

The event was a huge success so thanks to all those who came along on the 19th, we hope you enjoyed it. And to those who couldn’t make it on the night, we still want to say a massive thank you to you too!