Inverness Royal Academy pupil Archie Webster is an absolute diamond – literally!
A committed Young Leader, Archie has recently become the first ever recipient of the Diamond Hoodie, which is awarded to anyone who achieves 1,000 hours of volunteering with the High Life Highland Young Leadership programme.
The Diamond Hoodie presentation marks the end of an outstanding year for fifteen year old Archie. He won the Inspiring Young Leader of the Year category at the High Life Highland i-care awards last month and was awarded his Platinum Hoodie back in the summer for his many volunteering efforts clocking up 750 hours in just four years. To gain the Platinum Hoodie, he also had to organise a charity fundraiser which, for Archie, involved an 83 mile cycle ride through wind, rain and snow from Inverness to Aviemore and back, raising £1,372 for Mikeysline.
Archie is the first Young Leader to complete all of the Hoodie milestones and was awarded his eighth hoodie earlier in the month by musician and Mikeysline ambassador Callum Beattie.
Archie said: “On my volunteering journey to the Diamond hoodie, I have had some amazing experiences and opportunities to learn new skills and meet new people. During my time volunteering I also completed a fundraising activity for Mikeysline after hearing from former young leaders Ross and Callum Kinnaird from Nairn Academy talk about the vital services Mikeysline provides at a young leader wellness conference.
“The leadership programme has allowed me to gain valuable life skills from many different sports training sessions that I will be able to use in many different situations.”
Elizabeth MacDonald, Leadership Programme Development Officer with High Life Highland said: “Archie is an exceptional Young Leader and to achieve all those volunteering hours in just over four years is quite remarkable. Archie has shown an overwhelming amount of commitment and self motivation and is driven to help make a difference to his peers and the wider community. 2024 has been a great year for Archie and the wider Leadership Programme with more and more young people getting involved.”
Steve Walsh, Chief Executive of High Life Highland said: “Very many congratulations to Archie on being the first ever recipient of the Diamond Hoodie, which is an absolutely amazing effort. He is helping to make life better every day for people in his local community.”
As well as volunteering for Active Schools, Archie has volunteered at the Raigmore Hospital shop, the Highland Hospice and many local events including Na Trad Awards and the Highland Cross.
The Leadership Programme is open to young people aged 12-25 years – they do not need to be at school – and although underpinned by leadership in sport and youth work, the awards can be utilised by young people volunteering in clubs, libraries, facilities, and other community sectors.
The High Life Highland Leadership Programme Hoodie milestones are navy, purple, green, red, silver, gold, platinum and diamond.
Image information: Callum Beattie (2nd from left) with Archie Webster holding up his diamond hoodie. Either side of the pair are Ross and Callum Kinnaird, former Nairn Academy Young Leaders who are now with Mikeysline.
