• Category: Midlothian Volunteer Awards

    The Amazing Brains Committee at Art Club

    Richard Cross on 10 May, 2022

    Nominated by: Art Club – hosted by the Bill Russell Woodburn Youth Project

    Young people aged 8 – 14 have met weekly for around three years to coordinate the activities of Art Club, a youth-led creative project based in Woodburn, Dalkeith. They call themselves the Amazing Brains Committee and they chair their own meetings, direct their own work and take part in a huge range of activities on a regular basis. They are passionate about climate change action and have directed a range of projects including the Junior Rangers Program which ran in the Summer of 2021 for five full days. The work of the Amazing Brains committee has helped to promote a more positive view of local young people and had also shown that they can be fantastic role models.

    Alan Paterson

    Richard Cross on 10 May, 2022

    Nominated by: Thornton Rose Riding for the Disabled (RDA)

    Alan Paterson has been a member of Thornton Rose Riding for the Disabled (RDA) since 2019. His sense of humour and kindness have made him a firm favourite with participants of all ages.In the stable environment he helps participants and their carers to groom and stroke the horses and spend time practicing their deep breathing to relax and rebalance their emotions. Alan made a big difference to one of our teenage attendees who lacked positive male role models in his personal life. Alan provided this young man with a safe place to express himself and to talk about his feelings. This is what the young volunteer said about Alan: ‘Alan encouraged me to never give up. Alan is a good volunteer. Alan is kind. Alan listens to you. Alan speaks to you. Alan made me independent. Alan encourages me to not misbehave when I’m with the ponies.’

    Connect Project Team

    Richard Cross on 10 May, 2022

    Nominated by: Volunteer Midlothian

    A volunteer from the Connect Project is matched with a member of the older population who has been identified as socially isolated in the Midlothian community. The contribution that Connect volunteers make to the lives of those they are matched with is huge. The befriending process often acts as a ‘safety net’ by maintaining a strong and regular connection with someone in the community who is in a vulnerable situation. Clients find it invaluable speaking with someone who is not a close friend or family member. The work of the Connect volunteers has helped to ensure that older people in Midlothian are less isolated and better supported.

    Connect Online Volunteer Team

    Richard Cross on 10 May, 2022

    Nominated by: Volunteer Midlothian

    The Connect Online Volunteer Team has been running for nearly ten years. Volunteers work with older people to increase their skills and confidence using digital technology. Learners are supported with whatever device they have including mobile phones, laptops, tablets and smart tech such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home. Queries often arise about topics such as scam texts and e-mails, which can cause significant financial harm if prevention measures are not put in place. The volunteers support participants to block numbers, set up spam filters and report phishing to banks or other organisations. In doing so, the Connect Online Volunteer Team are helping to promote digital safety and reduce the likelihood of cybercrime.

    Siobhan Nelson

    Richard Cross on 10 May, 2022

    Nominated by: Midlothian Council Communities, Lifelong Learning and Employability (Adults and Families)

    Siobhan Nelson launched the Midlothian Free Share Facebook page in December 2021. This popular online group enables people in Midlothian to give unwanted items away for free. Siobhan allows local businesses to advertise on the Free Share page and this encourages people to buy locally. Among the most frequent posts are those offering children’s clothes and furniture. On one occasion a person moving into a new flat without anything at all was able to furnish their flat through the kind donations of local people. The project is raising people’s awareness about recycling and reducing waste and it is tackling poverty in Midlothian. The site is inclusive and friendly because of Siobhan’s can-do attitude, tenacity, and community spirit.

    Gail Denholm

    Richard Cross on 10 May, 2022

    Nominated by: Home Link Family Support

    Gail Denholm began training as a volunteer with home Link Family Support in August 2020 during lockdown. She has shown outstanding commitment and dedication to the role, making sure the family she works with have food and clothing. She has demonstrated great listening skills and empathy but has also helped with practical tasks such as gardening. She is currently assisting a family to declutter and pack, ready for a long overdue move to a larger property. She has gone the extra mile on several occasions, including taking numerous car loads of rubbish to the tip. Gail’s input has enabled clients to grow in self-confidence and to become more resilient.

    Lillian Renshaw

    Richard Cross on 10 May, 2022

    Nominated by: Rosewell Development Trust

    Lillian Renshaw started volunteering with Rosewell Development Trust in 2021, at a lunch club that provides a twice-weekly opportunity for elderly residents to get together for a chat over lunch. This has been especially important during the Covid pandemic when many older people have experienced loneliness and isolation. Lillian’s role involves helping to set the tables, serve the meals, and clear up whilst also interacting with those attending. Lillian enjoys the company and likes to chat with lunch club members about what she has been up to during the week. People love hearing her infectious laugh.

    Karyn Mcgrath

    Richard Cross on 10 May, 2022

    Karyn McGrath has been volunteering for Anam Cara for over two years. She has extensive volunteering experience including supporting burns victims and continues to volunteer for CREW 2000 supporting people with addictions. She recently became part of the training team for the befriending service at Anam Cara. Her warm personality provides a soft shoulder to lean on and a listening ear. Many of Anam Cara’s other volunteers go to Karyn when they are struggling or when they need a bit of extra support. All her work is completely selfless and dedicated to the organisation.

    Nominated by: ANAM CARA

    Margaret McMeekin

    Richard Cross on 10 May, 2022

    Nominated by: Volunteer Midlothian

    Margaret McMeekin volunteers for Transform, a community gardening project that aims to promote health, wellbeing and environmental sustainability. Margaret is a retired teacher with a keen interest in gardening and the environment. Her previous experience working with young people helps her to support Transform’s young volunteers, encouraging them to take part in gardening activities whilst learning new skills and having a positive experience. One young volunteer said: ‘Margaret should be celebrated; she gives her everything to the garden. I feel a better person for working there, I would definitely say I have more confidence. The work she is doing is incredible – I have nearly forgiven her for getting me to try that pure stinky Kale!’ 

    Nicola Buntin

    Richard Cross on 10 May, 2022

    Nominated by: Health-in-Mind Midlothian community team

    Nicola Buntin is a Health in Mind volunteer. She supports a weekly walking peer group and a gardening group in Dalkeith. Nicola’s role is to make people feel welcome, listen to their needs, and to promote equal opportunities. She is always aware of group dynamics and quickly adjusts to be able to lead discussions and activities. Nicola showed great compassion and understanding by emotionally supporting a group member that was struggling with their mental health, listening carefully to their needs and providing comfort until the person felt able to move on. She shows a huge amount of warmth towards other volunteers and service users.

    Margaret Dowling

    Richard Cross on 10 May, 2022

    Nominated by: Rosewell Development Trust

    Margaret Dowling started volunteering with Rosewell Development Trust at The Steading in August 2021. She is the first point of contact for anyone visiting or calling the Steading, so it’s important that people are made to feel welcome or are directed to the right place. Many visitors to the hub have felt isolated or vulnerable through the pandemic, but Margaret’s friendly way with people ensures that everyone feels safe and welcome. She is a reliable and very committed new volunteer who consistently takes on fresh challenges to increase her confidence and skills.

    Never Mind the Football – the Midlothian Volunteer Awards are Coming Home!

    Richard Cross on 8 July, 2021

    It’s been a month since the 2021 Midlothian Volunteer Awards ceremony took place online, and we are pleased to say that we have now managed to get the trophies and certificates into the hands of all our wonderful award winners and nominees. Here are a few pics of the trophies being handed over. It was a pleasure to work with everyone involved in the awards and to meet the winners in person. We look forward to doing it all again in years to come.

    Well done and thanks again everyone – winners AND nominees!

    Members of Art Club’s ‘Amazing Brains Committee’ receiving their Covid-19 Community Award.

    Ellie and Holly from the Midlothian Breastfeeding Alliance accepting the MBA’s award for voluntary work related to Health and Wellbeing.

    Gina from the Penicuik Ambassadors, who won the ‘Volunteer Team of the Year’ award. Gina was able to come to the Glencorse Centre with her daughter to collect the award at the same time as the MBA.

    Ricky Lloyd from Dalkeith Rugby Club accepting his award for Active Volunteering. Chris Boyle also jointly won this award for his hard work alongside Ricky.

    We wonder who got to take the award home!

    A member of the team from Food Facts Friends receiving the organisation’s certificate of nomination for the Covid-19 Community Award. Heather Mortimore from Food Facts Friends won the ‘Outstanding New Volunteer Award’.

    We delivered the certificate and trophy on the same day that some of the other trophies were handed over in the Penicuik area. Unfortunately, Heather wasn’t there at the time of drop off, but we hope she liked it when she got it!

    Samantha Gough, winner of the Saltire Summit Award for her dedicated volunteering with the children and families charity, Bright Sparks.

    We think Bramble the teddy looks very happy snuggling up with Samantha.

    Joseph Burke, Midlothian’s ‘Volunteer of the Year’ 2021. Joseph won this award in recognition of the outstanding volunteer work he has done over the past 18 months on behalf of local mental health charity Health in Mind.

    Melissa Reidie

    Richard Cross on 21 May, 2021

    Organisation: Girlguiding Scotland and Empty Kitchens, Full Hearts

    Melissa has shown an impressive commitment to volunteering, having completed four years in a leadership role for Girlguiding Scotland as well as inputting 477 hours for ‘Empty Kitchens, Full Hearts’ in Leith.  Empty Kitchens, Full Hearts takes surplus food and turns it into free healthy meals for people in need. The charity produced 409,751 meals from March-December 2020. Melissa gives 100% to her volunteering roles and, as a result, is highly regarded by those that know and have worked with her. Her contribution has been outstanding, and she is a real inspiration to others. Well done, Melissa! 

    Louise Gillespie

    Richard Cross on 21 May, 2021

    Organisation: Salvation Army and Y2K in Mayfield and Easthouses

    Louise has shown real commitment to volunteering, achieving over 400 hours of Saltire certification by dedicating three days of her time each week to The Salvation Army Shop. This is in addition to the contribution she has made as a volunteer with Y2K. Despite being a naturally shy individual, Louise has been determined to not let this stand in the way of helping and motivating others. She is a truly incredible individual who puts others first and would be a very deserving winner of the Saltire Summit Award.