THREE young people from Exmouth have been honoured at a special community awards ceremony at County Hall.

THREE young people from Exmouth have been honoured at a special community awards ceremony at County Hall.

Over thirty young people from across Devon were recognised after more than 100 nominations were received for the third annual awards.

Organised by Devon County Council and sponsored by Devon's Children's Trust, the award celebrate the personal and collective achievements of young people.

And this year Robyn Whitakker, 16, was awarded in the Safer Communities category while in the Positive Future Category Melissa Hempstead, 19, and Zoe Morton, 17 were recognised.

The finalists were selected by a panel of judges consisting of representatives from Devon's Children's Trust partnership and young people.

The categories were Healthy Lives; Safer Communities; Education; Participation and Positive Futures - a group category where young people have worked together to make a difference - and a Community Award, where young people have worked to raise awareness of the positive contribution young people make to society.

Chairman of Devon's Children's Trust Partnership, Mary Nisbett, said: "These annual awards are a wonderful way to recognise the efforts young people have made in their personal lives, their schools and clubs and their communities.

"Young people are often portrayed in a negative light, and the testimonies from the nominations show that so many of them have shown incredible strength, ambition, intelligence and selflessness in pursuing a goal or overcoming an obstacle."

Cllr Andrea Davis, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People's Health and Wellbeing said: "I am delighted to be attending this year's Young People's Achievement Awards, as one of the first events in my new cabinet member capacity.

"It is really important that we recognise and honour children's achievements, and give them the rewards and incentives to aim high in all aspects of their lives, and these finalists really deserve this accolade.

"I would like to thank the Children's Trust partners for their generous sponsorship of this event, which is going from strength to strength.