Youth Week 2016 Awards Recipient Goes from Strength to Strength

She was a recipient of a Change Maker – Community Safety Award at the Youth Week Awards in May this year, while Sticks ‘n Stones itself received a Youth Champion Award.

Ashleigh is committed to reducing online bullying. She is Co-Leader and Vice-Chair of the Board for Sticks ‘n Stones (SnS), an organisation that focuses on positive action to avert the risk of cyber-bullying. She is also Chair of her local SnS division, where she organises and hosts events for both young people and parents about engaging in social media. In addition, she mentors young people in schools throughout Central Otago and Dunedin, helping students to run workshops about bullying and mental health.

Ashleigh is currently working with the New Zealand Government to help inform their policy-making on bullying and social media. SnS now has 300 young volunteers, and Ashleigh hopes to be able to expand the initiative to every school in New Zealand. She is also studying to become a nurse, and plans to use her future career as an ongoing platform through which to raise awareness of bullying, suicide and mental health.

The Queen’s Young Leader Award recognises and celebrates exceptional young people from across the Commonwealth, who are taking the lead in their communities and using their skills to transform lives. Winners receive a unique package of training, mentoring and networking, including a one-week residential programme in the UK during which they will collect their Award from Her Majesty The Queen. With this support, Award winners are expected to continue developing the outstanding work they are already doing in their communities.

To be recognised throughout the Commonwealth is a huge accomplishment and we wish Ashleigh the very best for her trip to the UK.

Learm more about the Minister for Youth's Youth Week 2016 Awards, Sticks 'n Stones and the Queen's Young Leader Awards.