• Covid-19

    • Category: Winner

    Les Reynolds (Mayfield Community Club)

    Miriam Leighton on 29 March, 2023

    Nominated by: Mayfield Community Club Tea Dance

    Les, we highly value your involvement in supporting and engaging people into their local community. You are a passionate, motivated, helpful and proactive individual. We appreciate your commitment to the Mayfield Community Club Tea Dance which has become an important event in the lives of 100 isolated people in the community. The work that you have done to evolve the project and make it accessible to others is wonderful. 

    Louise D’Arcy Greig (Army Cadet Force)

    Miriam Leighton on 29 March, 2023

    Nominated by: Mayfield Community Council

    We particularly admire you helping young people of Midlothian by providing them with the skills of discipline, focus and leadership which will enable them to overcome many obstacles in life. 

    Soup2Go (Midlothian CLLE)

    Miriam Leighton on 29 March, 2023

    Nominated by: Midlothian Communities Lifelong Learning and Employability 

    We particularly admired the fact that these volunteers created something from scratch for that supported the local community. We loved the feedback from members of the community and seeing how the Soup2Go team were valued.  It was great to see how volunteering had also made a difference to those who took part. 

    Davy Naismith (Glencorse Centre)

    Miriam Leighton on 29 March, 2023

    Nominated by: Glencorse

    It is clear Davy has passion, commitment, and devotion towards his community though his work at Glencorse Centre. We believe Davy goes beyond what is expected, using his own time and resources to improve the lives of those in the community. It is evident that Davy encompasses community spirit and has had a real impact to the community.

    Ageing Well Volunteers (Ageing Well)

    Miriam Leighton on 29 March, 2023

    Ageing Well Volunteers

    Nominated by: Ageing Well Volunteer Coordinator

    We particularly value your commitment to improve people’s life and wellbeing and your long life dedication to promote physical activity of a local community

    Alister Ballantyne (Health in Mind)

    Miriam Leighton on 29 March, 2023

    Alister Ballantyne

    Nominated by: Health in Mind

    It is clear from Ally’s nomination that he has a very long history of volunteering within Midlothian, most recently with Peer Connection Midlothian. It is clear that he invests his time and energy building long lasting relationships to support people with mental health conditions. Over and above 1-2-1 support, Ally has also devoted his time to supported fundraising for Peer Connecting Midlothian, and again has shared his extensive experience to help guide applications to the Midlothian Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund. It is obvious that Ally is regarded as a much loved and valued mentor who should be celebrated with this award.

    IMPACT facilitators – Parents Group (CLLE & Sure Start)

    Miriam Leighton on 28 March, 2023

    Impact Facilitators

    Nominated by: Midlothian Council CLLE and Midlothian Sure Start

    We were inspired by the work that IMPACT have been carrying out to improve the wellbeing of our community members. Through the development and introduction of adult wellbeing programmes they have brought members of the community together, enabling them to obtain new skills, establish new friendships and most importantly providing the opportunity for individuals to secure a trusted support network that is there long after they have finished the programme. Feedback from attendees has clearly been very positive and we are delighted to award Lee, Shona and Claire this years Outstanding New Volunteer award. 

    Ageing Well Volunteer Team

    Miriam Leighton on 11 May, 2022

    The Aging Well Volunteer Team have done a tremendous job this year supporting people over the age of 50 – many with long term health conditions – to lead a more active lifestyle. Throughout Midlothian the volunteers offer 45 activities each week including health walks, new age curling, dance and other sports. The peer support they provide is key to the success of Ageing Well. All 58 volunteers act as valuable role models to encourage others to take better care of their own health and wellbeing. Volunteers are very loyal to the project and one has been with the project from the very beginning, for 22 years! With over 4000 hours given to the project in the past year alone, Ageing Well volunteers are a dedicated, enthusiastic group of very special people.

    Nominated by: Ageing Well Midlothian

    Joanna Haba

    Miriam Leighton on 10 May, 2022

    Nominated by: Home Link Family Support

    Joanna Haba has been volunteering since 2020 and is currently supporting her second family with Home Link Family Support. Joanna is bi-lingual, speaking both Polish and English, meaning that she has been able to help provide interpretation. In recent months Joanna has been assisting the family she is matched with (especially mum) to get involved in some systemic family counselling, also through Home Link. Joanna has made a significant difference to the life of this mother. As the focus of the relationship has changed over time, Joanna has worked in a very compassionate way with the mother to help her through the difficulties she has experienced.  She has shown immense commitment to this family and has been unwavering in her support for them.