Inspiring Volunteers

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
2009

The Beveridge Park Hotel recently hosted Volunteer Centre Fife’s annual award ceremony, which rewards and recognises the remarkable work of volunteers throughout the region.

This year’s event was attended by approximately 150 people and guest speaker for the evening was Tony Scott – a two-time National Speech Contest Winner, and Lecturer at Stevenson College. Entertainment was provided during the evening by dancing groups Kesara and Kachina and tribute band Fun Razers. The evening got off to a great start with a short film by Daniel Casey and Jonathon Horner (Film & Media Students from Adam Smith College) featuring several voluntary organisations in Fife.

Below is a summary of this year’s winners:

Young Volunteer of the Year: Caron Grieve – Furniture Plus

Caron is an admin volunteer with the furniture recycling charity in Dysart. She commits to more than her allotted hours, often at short notice, and assisted with the re-organisation of the office space. She also works closely with the sales team to help customers.

Open Category Volunteer of the Year: Peter Aitken – Victoria Hospice Kirkcaldy

Peter, a practising solicitor, offers the patients and their families free legal advice. He also carries out home visits. He has been volunteering at the Hospice for 12 years, and doubles up as a meet and greet volunteer on a Sunday evening. Peter acts above and beyond the call of duty for the benefit of the patients of the Hospice.

Volunteer Team of the Year: Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland In-reach Services at Cameron, Victoria and Queen Margaret Hospitals.

CHSS work in partnership with NHS Fife, to provide 1:1 support to patients of the stroke wards in the hospitals. The communication difficulties faced by the patients often leaves them feeling socially isolated, and the dedicated team of volunteers with CHSS have been working tirelessly to alleviate this. They often work under the tutelage of Speech and Language Therapists to deliver conversational support as well as reading and writing exercises.

Employer-Supported Volunteer of the Year: Royal Bank of Scotland (GS&F, Fraud & AML Department) based at Drummond House, South Gyle, Edinburgh.

They completed a renovation of Home-Start’s offices. The work they carried out included painting and re-decorating of the children’s rooms. Brightening them up for the families really makes an impact to the organisation’s clients – families. The premises are in excellent decorative order.

Diversity Award: Volunteer Evening Receptionists Victoria Hospice

Two members of this four-person team have moved to Scotland from a remote village in India only four years ago. Lydiya and Nimisha are still in their teens, and have adapted quickly to life in Scotland, speaking three languages, and writing in 2 of them. The team is made up by 2 more ‘mature’ volunteers, and have displayed excellent inter-generational practice in their setting, even taking part in a culture-swap exercise with the two Scottish members of the team.

‘Moving On’ Volunteer of the Year: Chris Ward – The Harbour Howff Community Café

Chris has overcome a number of barriers through his volunteering including homelessness, social isolation and depression. Through the housing support service offered by ENeRGI, he began to volunteer in the project’s community café. He was heavily involved in the refurbishment and re-opening of the café. He has moved on from volunteer to full-time café manager, but still dedicates more time than he is paid to in the popular East Neuk café. He now supports and trains volunteers in the café.

Mature Volunteer of the Year: Moira Girvan – Sailors Rest Centre Methil

Moira has been a volunteer at the Sailor’s Rest Centre for an incredible 37 years. A period of ill-health last year did not deter Moira, still avidly giving time to the Thrift shop, lunch clubs and even has time to chair the Community Association and House Committee. Moira brings an unparalleled enthusiasm to the centre.

Give Something Back Supported Volunteers of the Year: Dawn Lockey and Michelle Hodge – Oakley Lunch Club

Both of these ladies have overcome substantial personal barriers to volunteer at Oakley Community Centre Lunch Club. They came to be at the club through the Give Something Project in West Fife. Between them they prepare, cook and serve meals to 14 elderly people at the club. Without the input of these two ladies, the club would cease to exist as the staff at the centre were unable to run it for much longer.