The Youthie, as it is known, is in the running for the 2016 Local Government Youth Week Awards for the best local youth week program and most innovative youth week program.

The annual awards recognise the role played by local councils in helping young people organise and carry out Youth Week activities and events in their area.

The best part, according to staff, is the youth centre was nominated by local young people who attended a week full of events for youth in the Tamworth region, including a self-esteem-building ‘glamour’ workshop and a festival with live music, food stalls and entertainment.

Council operations manager for community care, Heather Lynn, said to be named a finalist was a testament to the amount of effort put in by staff and volunteers. “We put a lot of effort in to make sure youth have a safe place to visit and it’s so important to engage them in activities they may not normally get to try,” she said.