It’s time to shout about our great young people

As the last few days of 2017 disappear, it’s time to look forward to a new year.

2018 is the Year of Young People, an about-time celebration of the amazing young personalities, talents, and achievers that make up Scotland.

The idea, which started way back in 2013, and has been shaped by young people themselves in the lead up to the launch, is to inspire the whole nation through its young people’s ideas, attitudes and ambitions.

A year-long programme of events, activities and ideas will give Scots the chance to show the world what they’re made of.

We already know what our young people can achieve, of course, here in Glasgow.

The city’s teenagers and young adults are made of strong stuff.

Every year, the Evening Times and its partners celebrate young people as part of the Glasgow Community Champions Awards.

If you need reminding of how great they are, take a look back at some of the stories we have written about inspirational young people throughout 2017.

I’m lucky - in the course of my job, I get to meet and write about some incredible young people, and this year has been no exception.

There was Habiba Amin, from the north east of Glasgow, who overcame bullying and health challenges before giving something back to her community in the shape of volunteering for cycling charity Free Wheel North, and Bethany Donaghy, who helped her secondary school become a centre of dance excellence.

I met superstar volunteer Megan Johnston, who has been helping out at a host of local clubs since she was just 13 and the fantastic pupils at Abercorn Secondary, who do a power of community work while coping with their own challenges into the bargain.

One of my favourite stories was about the sixth year pupils at Lochend Community High in Easterhouse, who discovered they all had someone in their family with dementia - so they wrote a picture book for young children, to help them understand the condition.

There are so many young people in schools, youth groups, community organisations and individuals across the city and beyond, giving up their time to help others.

We also have brilliant young entrepreneurs, clever inventors and creative talents emerging in all kinds of spheres all over Scotland.

Give them your support, shout out about them to all around you and let’s hope 2018’s Year of Young People gives them a richly-deserved chance to shine.