INSPIRATIONAL youngsters from Darlington will be honoured for their contributions to the community at a special awards ceremony on Tuesday night.

The youngsters and their families will gather in the central hall, at the Dolphin Centre, in Darlington, for the Darlington Vibe Awards 2016.

They will be entertained by Hurworth Streetdance and Stagecoach Performing Arts School for four to 18-year –olds, which is sponsored by Darlington Lions Club.

More than 3000 ten to 19-year-olds have been given well deserved recognition for their achievements, in some cases, against all odds, since the awards were launched nine years ago.

Tonight’s ceremony, which is sponsored by Darlington Building Society, will see awards given for Contribution to the Community, Contribution to the Arts, Achievement Against the Odds in Life, Achievement Against the Odds in Learning and the Shining Vibe.

The sponsors for the categories are The Northern Echo, Latimer Hinks Solicitors, Darlington College, Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, Sherwood’s Chevrolet, PCT and Durham Constabulary.

The shortlisting was led by a panel made up of Darlington’s Youth Member of Parliament Jess Halliday and Chris Blewitt and Claire Story from Darlington Building Society.

Jess said: “The Vibe Awards are a celebration of the young people in the community who go the extra mile to enhance the lives of others. The work they do should be recognised with these awards.”

Councillor Cyndi Hughes, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for children and young people, said: “I believe raising self-esteem and confidence is incredibly important and this is what these awards aim to do. I am looking forward to an inspiring an entertaining evening.’’

Colin Fyfe, chief executive of Darlington Business Society, said it was proud to be the principal supporter of the event.

He said: “Darlington is quite rightly proud of its young people and while only a few can actually win an award there is a wealth of talent and achievement across the town that is rightly being honoured and recognised by the Vibe Awards.’’