Category: Service to the Community

Nominated by: Health in Mind

We recognise your dedication to supporting others and clearly going above and beyond to help those in need.

Nominated by: Girl Guides

We value highly your involvement in supporting our young people within the community through your time at Rainbows, Brownies, Guides & Rangers.

Nominated by: Tynewater Community Council

We value highly your involvement in supporting Pathhead and District Community. Your work at Pathhead Hall to provide community activities will improve the lives of local families, adults and children.

Nominated by: Penicuik Storehouse

We appreciate your devotion and perseverance in supporting a range of community members ensuring services are available to all. We particularly admire your work with local traders and makers, and also the Pay It Forward system you have introduced.

Nominated by: Midlothian Carer Centre

We value highly your involvement in supporting unpaid carers at Midlothian Carer Centre. The advice and support you provide through both direct and innovative service delivery will make a difference to the lives of carers.

Nominated by: Mayfield Community Club

We appreciate your devotion and contribution to the community of Mayfield through all your hard work at Tea Dance over the past 12 years.

Nominated by: Rosewell Development Trust

We particularly admire your devotion towards the whole of Rosewell Community over the past 30 years. Your length of service is a clear indication to your passion and commitment to making people’s lives better

Nominated by: Friends of Saltersgate School

Throughout lockdown Louise and her family collected surplus food from multiple locations and arranged delivery of food packages to Bright Sparks families in the local area. Although Louise had intended to step back from her role in recent months, she continues to volunteer and organise activities for members and their families. Louise facilitated Zoom support groups during lockdown, as well as organising a range of different activities for both the children and the carers involved in Bright Sparks. The team wouldn’t want to be without her and the Bright Sparks families feel the same. She is always looking for new opportunities to support families and is a very dedicated volunteer.

Nominated by: Beeslack Community High School

The Food Facts Friends team’s focus is to provide support for people experiencing food poverty. Without these volunteers the work of the organisation could not continue. Before The Pantry opens, this busy team of volunteers prepare the rota for the day, receive deliveries and stack shelves, checking dates, labels and weighing bags/boxes. They also complete paperwork, fill fridges and freezers with donated food and prepare food parcels – sometimes till 10pm at night. The volunteers have great empathy for the people that attend. They have faced many challenges since the project opened, but have continued to work together to develop their skills and support hundreds of families during the Covid recovery period.

Nominated by: Midlothian Council

Gail and Owen Quin from Newbattle Community Education Centre Management Committee installed, developed and maintained the community garden project to the rear of the community centre. They have given their time and expertise willingly and have been involved in a number of community events and activities such as campaigns, fund raising and open days. Over the years they have been involved in various developments and projects and have undertaken most of the work themselves, including the development of a youth space that was made possible via funding from Youth Link Scotland in 2007. Over the years Gail and Owen have worked extremely hard to make Newbattle Community Centre a better place to be for all members of the community. They make a positive contribution to others and set a great example for the whole local community.

Nominated by: Rosewell Development Trust

Ros McLeish volunteers every Thursday at Rosewell Development Trust’s lunch club, ensuring the room is prepared and the tables are set and ready for a warm welcome. The lunch club is a well-established feature of the local community with several older volunteers who help out. Ros fitted in straight away when she started in her role, quickly establishing a niche for herself sharing duties with other volunteers. Ros has a positive and upbeat personality and has brought a new vibrancy to the lunch club. Some members suffer from dementia and Ros is supportive and empathetic, making them feel safe and welcome. Her bubbly personality always helps to put others at ease.

Nominated by: Mayfield and Easthouses Development Trust (MAEDT)

Mayfield and Easthouses Development Trust’s volunteer team have been integral to the functioning and growth of MAEDT’s activities during the pandemic. They have created and improved the community garden, helped to set up and establish the community café, stocked up The Pantry (an affordable food project), improved community spaces by litter picking, maintained flower beds in the park and cleared spaces in the park to minimise anti-social behaviour and improve safety for everyone. MAEDT’s volunteers are kind, caring, compassionate and always dedicated to the work they do.