With the deadline of 20 October fast-approaching, secondary school students are being encouraged to apply for the 12th annual Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards. The only youth initiative of its kind, the awards recognise the role youth volunteers play in communities.

Online applications are open now until 20 October and principals have until 10 November to nominate up to two students from their school for national level recognition.

Twenty finalists will all be awarded €500 for their charities, at a gala awards ceremony in March 2018. Two overall winners will also be announced and these All-Ireland Youth Volunteers of the Year will be awarded €1,000 each for their chosen charities and will receive a trip to Washington DC for the annual international Prudential Spirit of Community Awards celebration.

The Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards are run in partnership with Pramerica, the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) and the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI).

Applications are now open at www.pramerica.ie/spirit. CL