THE search is on to find young people across Sedgefield who, day after day, make a special contribution to society without recognition.

The Sedgefield Awards for Sensational Youth (SASY) scheme is being launched by Sedgefield Borough Council.

Each award will celebrate outstanding achievements by local youngsters and give them the credit they deserve for doing something special.

Following consultation with youngsters and agencies, the council has created 11 individual and group awards.

The categories recognise the top sports person, club, arts worker, carer, school sports team, volunteer and learner of 2006.

There are also awards for special achievement, an unsung hero, special member of the community and an amateur video clip.

Ian Davey, sports development officer, said: "We set this scheme up to recognise all of the efforts of our young people.

"Day after day, young people make a contribution to our society and far too often this goes unnoticed.

"From sport to the arts, voluntary work to caring for others, it is time we thanked those individuals and teams that work together for the good of this borough.

"We want to celebrate success and give young people the credit they deserve and want people to make lots of nominations so no-one goes unnoticed."

The scheme has won the support of a series of agencies that work with young people, and representatives from each will form the judging panel.

Information packs and nomination forms are being sent to schools and community groups across the borough.

Residents and workers are now being urged to nominate those people, aged 21 and under, they feel deserve an award.

The Northern Echo is supporting the authority in its SASY 2006 initiative and will keep readers updated and print entry forms until the closing date on December 31.

There will also be full coverage of the nomination shortlists and an awards cere-mony to be held at Spennymoor Leisure Centre next spring.

A film company is being commissioned to record footage of all the nominees who will be shown during the awards night.

For more details, call (01388) 816166.