The Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards 2020 was launched by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at a celebration event in Edinburgh Castle.

During the Year of Young People 2018, Sunday Mail and Young Scot were able to deliver their biggest ever Young Scot Awards celebration event. The launch of the Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards 2020 celebrates the impact of the 2018 Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards and its winners, in addition to launching the Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards 2020.

The First Minister was joined by Abbie Wilson, Vice Chair of Young Scot and Brendan McGinty, Senior Editor of Sunday Mail to welcome the winners of the 2018 awards and officially launch the Awards for 2020.

The night was brought to a close with a group of young poets who performed ‘Our Place’ a poem co-written by young people and Jackie Kay, the Scot’s Makar, which was performed at the Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards 2018.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “I thank Young Scot and the Sunday Mail for organising these awards and applaud everyone who has supported and helped these young people.

“But most of all I congratulate the winners themselves – they’ve volunteered, promoted equality, raised funds for charity, increased awareness of big issues, and shown incredible creativity or invention. They demonstrate the fact that Scotland’s young people are overwhelmingly caring, compassionate, talented people.

“These awards are a reminder to us all that we should celebrate our young people each and every day.”

Sunday Mail Editor Brendan McGinty said: “How do you follow something as incredible as the Year of Young People? Scotland will just have to keep having them.

There are so many young people in Scotland who display a passion well beyond their years. People like Young Scot 2018 winner Jordan Daly whose campaigning led to Scotland becoming the first country in the world to make the teaching of LGBTi rights compulsory in schools and Andy Robertson who played for Liverpool in the final of the European Cup.

The Young Scot Awards tell a positive story about the fantastic young people in Scotland and I can’t wait to see who will be making headlines at the Awards in 2020.”

Louise Macdonald, Chief Executive of Young Scot said, “It was brilliant to see the winners from the 2018 Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards again.

“Having so many inspirational young people, who are championing such a diverse range important causes under one roof is incredible.

“I’m delighted we can announce the launch of #YSAwards 2020 and look forward to nominations opening, so we can hear the stories of young people all over Scotland doing amazing work locally, nationally and globally.”