Celebrating our youth: Tele Community Champion Awards 2024

After focusing on the Senior Champion of the Year category yesterday, we now turn our attention to the other end of the age spectrum, and those in contention for the Youth Community Champion of the Year title, sponsored by Clyde Eats.

The judges have whittled down the numerous nominees to a shortlist of four - Skye McCabe, Inverclyde Amateur Swimming Club, Ben Kane and Jade McDonald.

Skye McCabe
This young girl has gone out of her way every year since she was just six to make sure deprived children and young adults in Inverclyde receive gifts every Christmas.

Skye, now 14, has raised thousands upon thousands of pounds for young people who are less fortunate than most their age, and has done so by making and selling reindeer food every year as well as selling cookies for Santa and making up hot chocolate cones to sell.

As the years have gone on Skye has also raised funds in other ways, including through raffles and bake sales.

Skye continues to do this every year to make sure all young people in the district get a Christmas.

Inverclyde Amateur Swimming Club
Our talented young swimmers have been gearing up for an Olympic effort which will see them swim more than a million metres to cover the costs of a vital pool upgrade.

Members launched a donation drive to pay for the installation of six new racing blocks at the Waterfront Leisure Centre’s pool in Greenock.

Club members say that the state-of-the-art equipment will improve the way the already successful club prepares for big competitions and tournaments.

They have been aiming to raise £12,000 to pay for the blocks and were already well on their way earlier this year thanks to a £6,000 donation from Inverclyde Leisure.

To raise the funds, the club members will collectively swim 696 miles – the distance from the Waterfront Pool in Greenock to the Paris venue where the world’s best aquatic athletes will compete this summer.

Ben Kane
This award-winning Clydeview Academy pupil is making sure that no child in Inverclyde is ever left alone to cope with grief or loss at school.

Sixth year pupil Ben, who lost his older brother five years ago, says that his campaign for better bereavement support is ongoing.

He recently picked up a Rotary UK Young Citizen of the Year award alongside his classmate Nina Kirk, who is one of the country's leading young climate activists.

Ben, 17, who set up a support group with the help of a teacher in Clydeview, has held talks with education chiefs about widening it out across all Inverclyde schools.

He said: "I knew from my own experiences of loss what was needed, what wasn't there and what could have been better. I wanted to use that to help other people.

"I felt there was a real need for a bereavement support service in school."

Jade McDonald
FOURTEEN-year-old Jade stepped into action when the devastating blaze tore through a property on Greenock's Wren Road.

Her mother Linda, 46, and Jade - who was alerted to the fire after taking a bowl of macaroni and cheese to her neighbours - dragged a woman and her daughter from the blazing property.

Jade was making small talk on her neighbour's porch when they became aware of the fire.

She said: “The fire alarm went off and we gave each other a bit of a look, she handed me the mac and cheese back and ran up the stairs.

“Her wee girl went up after her and then I heard her scream to me that the house was on fire.

“I bolted up the stairs and the little girl ran into the back room because she must have got a fright.

“I grabbed her, ran back out and into our house then started screaming to my mum that the house was on fire.

“My mum dropped everything and ran out in her socks, and I followed her then phoned 999.”

Mum Linda said: “I’m so proud of Jade, the way she reacted was amazing."