A POLICE officer who has played a key role in breaking down barriers between youngsters in Tranent and police has been shortlisted for a national award.
PC Zara McDowell, one of the local community beat officers in the town, is one of three finalists selected for the ‘agencies and partnerships’ category of the National Youth Worker of the Year Awards 2014.
Over the last year, she has built up a strong relationship with local young people and worked to break down barriers and distrust that some young people in the community have with the police.
Working in partnership with Recharge in Tranent, Zara developed the Tranent Summer Diversionary Programme, where young people struggling to keep on the right side of the law had the chance to build their confidence and skills.
Her work has been widely praised in the community and she has been recognised as an important cog in the work Recharge does in the town, increasing the confidence and life skills of youngsters through a range of activities in partnership with the youth organisation’s project manager Alan Bell.
He said: “Zara has shown exceptional commitment to getting young people involved in the community and has made sure they have a say on issues that affect them.
“She has also been at the centre of early intervention programmes which have been successful in turning young people away from crime.
“For her it is all about bringing people together and she has built relationships with young people whose families traditionally have a very negative view of the police or anyone associated with them.” The awards, run by YouthLink Scotland, recognise and celebrate outstanding achievement with young people by managers, practitioners, peer educators, teams and individuals.
Jim Sweeney, chief executive of YouthLink Scotland, said: “The finalists have demonstrated outstanding commitment and passion to changing the lives of young people for the better.” The winners will be announced and presented with their award at the awards dinner in Glasgow’s Crowne Plaza Hotel tomorrow (Thursday). The event will be hosted by broadcaster and DJ Grant Stott and the awards presented by Aileen Campbell MSP, Minister for Children and Young People.
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