Children’s Panel volunteers throughout Ayrshire have been awarded and recognised for their work at an annual award ceremony.

The Ayrshire area support team from Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS) hosted their 2022 recognition ceremony in Kilmarnock’s Park Hotel.

The ceremony saw 38 current and former volunteers with a combined service of more than 350 years recognised for their commitment to the children’s hearings system in Ayrshire.

Erica Edwards, the CHS area convener, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to come together to recognise so many wonderful individuals who have dedicated so much of their time to the Children’s Panel.

“The Children’s Panel provides an amazing service to our young people, and we rely on our volunteers to help make vital life-changing decisions for them.

“That is a huge responsibility and one which none of them take lightly. Our thanks go to all of them.”

Helen Steele, a retired South Ayrshire panel member who served for 28 years and retired this June, received this year’s ‘longest serving’ award.

Many other panel members as well as members of the area support team from across Ayrshire were recognised for their dedicated service at the ceremony.