IT WAS an evening that shone the spotlight on everything that is great about our community’s young people.

From moving stories of tireless and selfless hard work and commitment, to a staggering range of musical and theatrical performances that brought roars of applause, the Youth Service’s annual celebration of young people has deservedly earned its place as one of the most special events in our island’s calendar.

It’s easy to get used to the formality of the awards circuit but the format of this ceremony is wholly different. Designed together with the youngsters to thank and officially recognise their efforts and talents, it serves as a reminder of what a wonderful, future generation Guernsey is so fortunate to have.

As our coverage on pages 32 and 33 shows, the overall result is an uplifting showcase that it is, quite frankly, impossible not to be impressed by.

Sadly, some stories still surface about young people that reinforce negative prejudices about ‘youths’ in our community.

But this night more than put that right.

And what is indisputably clear is that without this positive, important input from our young people, island life in Guernsey as we know it would simply not be the same.

Years of volunteering for St John Ambulance duties, hours spent helping other children learn life skills and add to their talents, a constant  determination that inspires other youngsters to overcome adversity from an early age – the

humbling nominations roll call went on and on.

Head of Guernsey’s Youth Service Dave Le

Feuvre made the point that while calls are being made in other places for people to embrace a ‘big society approach’ within their communities, Guernsey is already a shining example of that – helped not least by all the youngsters there at the Princess Royal Centre for the Performing Arts on Wednesday evening.

Yet perhaps the most simple line of the evening, from distinguished guest Bailiff Richard Collas, had the most impact.

Opening his speech, he asked the audience: ‘Aren’t our young people wonderful?’

The answer was a resounding, ‘yes’.