A young person from Laois has been honoured at the 2024 Laois/Offaly Garda Divisional Youth Awards, held in the Killeshin Hotel in Portlaoise.
Rachel Fennelly of Laois Civil Defence received an individual award, recognising her dedication to building up the skills to help her local community.
The Garda Youth Awards recognise the outstanding achievement of young people between the ages of 13 and 21, who have undertaken exceptional work in their local communities or who have shown great determination in their own lives.
Laois Civil Defence is a volunteer-based organisation that supports front line emergency services and local communities.
Portlaoise native Rachel joined the organisation as a volunteer in 2023 and has been described as “a strong member of the team.”
She undergoes weekly training sessions to gain experience and skills aimed at assisting the community through a variety of activities, such as providing first aid cover at community events and assisting the unit with emergency call outs, such as missing person operations.
“Rachel brings a very positive attitude to the unit and has integrated well with the team,” Laois Civil Defence said.
“She has dedicated her own time to building up the basic skills to volunteer within the community and has shown strong initiative on how she would like to improve her skills and expand her role within the team.
“Rachel has progressed well over the last year with the unit and has a keen interest in learning and passing on skills she has developed to other volunteers.
“She has assisted the unit on skills exercises as well as providing demonstrations to school and community groups.”
