Siobhan Nelson
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.