This year's Garda Youth Achievement Awards will take on a different format this year with awards presented to individuals and groups separately. Also, everyone nominated will receive an official Lee Strand Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Award certificate.

This week, the Kerry Division of An Garda Síochána in association with Lee Strand Milk made a call out for nominations for young people between the ages of 13 years and 21 years to recognise the great contribution young people have made and continue to make to their communities in Kerry during these challenging times.

Awards will be presented to individuals who have made a positive contribution to their community and make it a better place to live. A Group Award will also be presented to groups of two or more people who have made an impact to their community. The Special Achievement Award will be presented to an individual who has overcome difficult circumstances, has defied all the odds and whose commitment deserves recognition. A Community Safety Award will be presented to an individual who through crime prevention or a safety initiative/innovation has made their community a safer place to live. The Overall Winner of the Lee Strand/Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Award 2020 will also be presented.

"This has been a difficult year for everybody but perhaps especially for our old and young people," Chief Superintendent Eileen Foster said.

"It is also perhaps a time that we give the best of ourselves and throughout this pandemic young people are giving back to their own communities through voluntary work, sport or educational achievements. The Youth Achievement Awards gives An Garda Síochána an opportunity to engage with young people in a positive fashion and recognise these positive interactions, for the betterment of the community as a whole. The Garda Youth Awards will take on a different format this year to comply with restrictions, but without the continuous support of Lee Strand, the highly respected local co-op in the community, it would not be possible to acknowledge these achievements."

Gearoid Linnane, CEO, Lee Strand added that "Lee Strand has a strong commitment to supporting initiatives within the local community".

"We are delighted to support the Kerry Garda Youth Achievement Awards since 1998. The awards provide a great opportunity to celebrate and recognise the achievements of the young people of Kerry. Things are different this year, but one thing that is the same are our fantastic youth, who continue to make a positive impact within their local community."

The closing date for receipt of nominations is 12 noon on Friday, February 26. Any member of the public can nominate a young person who they feel has contributed to their local community. Nominations are accepted from individuals, community and voluntary groups, schools and youth clubs/organisation. The winners will be selected by a panel of judges who are community volunteers from around the county under the chairmanship of Chief Superintendent Eileen Foster, An Garda Síochána. Nomination forms are available to download on www.leestrand.ie or email tralee.community@garda.ie. For further details contact Tralee Garda Station on 066 7102311.