Local heroes of third sector in Highlands take a bow at Strathpeffer gathering for 'invaluable' work
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THE Highland Third Sector Awards, the area’s flagship ceremony for volunteers, community groups and voluntary organisations, has recognised scores of local heroes at a feelgood bash in Strathpeffer.
Every year, the Highland Third Sector Interface hosts (HTSI) a ceremony seeking to recognise and reward the effort of volunteers, voluntary organisations and community groups that are serving the people and communities of the Highlands. This year's event was held at the Strathpeffer Pavilion.
A total of 13 categories in total included reducing vulnerabilities, youth volunteer of the year and Third Sector organisation of the Year.
Around 120 guests attended the event where the awards were presented by Kirsty Ewen, who is a Sport Scotland Ambassador and winner of last year’s BBC Scotland's Get Inspired Unsung Hero award.
Mhairi Wylie, chief officer, Highland Third Sector said: “Volunteers and voluntary organisations play an invaluable role in every community in the Highlands and we want to recognise the tremendous work they do while giving them the thanks they so richly deserve.”
Niall MacLennan, chairman of Highland Community Justice Partnership said: “The Community Justice Partnership are delighted to announce that the Gael Og Probation Team, part of Action For Children have won the HTSI Community Justice Award 2019. The team provide excellent interventions to those who have offended and now serving their sentence in the community.
“They are also involved in important prevention work around violence in relationships. This work is extremely important in terms of reducing reoffending, the whole ethos of community justice.”
Awards
HTSI Team Member – The HTSI Team Award went to Adult Health & Wellbeing Team, Iain McKenzie and Spike Setch.
HTSI Partner of the Year – Versus Arthritis, a core partner of the work of LGOWIT (Let's Get On With It), providing volunteers the opportunity to become trainers.
LGOWIT Self-Management Excellence Award – An award celebrating a person or organisation in Highland who embraces Self Management in their own lives or services. Awarded to Catherine Gaston, a volunteer, who runs a group for people with long term-conditions called Grumpy Gaspers.
Community Justice Partnership Excellence Award – This award is presented on behalf of the Highland Community Justice Partnership and can recognise either an individual or an organisation for its outstanding contribution to the Community Justice agenda. Specifically, the panel would like to see innovation, impact and change as a result of the
work that has been undertaken by your nominee in tackling offending in Highland. Awarded to Pauline Simpson and the Gael Og Probation Team from Action for Children for their work to address offending behaviour.
Community Initiative – An award for an initiative which has been designed and delivered by a community, geographical or thematic, which can demonstrate tangible and evidenced benefits to the community in tackling a
community need, issue or vision went to Lairg and District Learning Centre who are our Community Initiative
of the Year for their community approach to try to tackle climate change, in Sutherland.
Highland Partnership – This award is to recognise a partnership which has delivered an evidenced benefit as a result of working in partnership which would not have been possible otherwise. Some fabulous work taking place with Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival – Highland Partners which has won the award for Highland Partnership of the Year. They ran a festival with 35 events in the Highlands. Over 20 organisations are part of it including Creativity in Care, HUG, Birchwood, Mikey’s Line.
Board Trustee of the Year – For an individual of any age who has volunteered or is volunteering on a third sector Board. Their commitment and impact should be pivotal to the organisation and possibly transformational. Joan
Steele who is the chair of Badenoch and Strathspey Community Transport. She has been with them for 11 years and started out as a volunteer driver.
Reducing Vulnerability through Third Sector Activity Award – This award is focused on recognising good practice and innovation in directly trying to reduce the level of vulnerability which individuals living in Highland may experience. Through their energy advice service, community food stop, keep active together project, Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust.
Social Enterprise of the Year – This award is about recognising good practice, innovation and impact of social enterprise in Highland. Muir of Ord Development Trust who have brought the Muir Hub and Village Hall to life
after sitting unused for years.
Youth Volunteer of the Year – Awarded to Shona Beveridge who volunteers with the Care and Learning Alliance as an out of school club.
Volunteer of the Year – For an individual of any age who has volunteered in any way. A joint one award, this time for our Volunteers of the Year Linda Kerr and Graeme Watson, who both volunteer with Befrienders Highland.
Outstanding Achievement Award – For recognition of an individuals outstanding and sustained contribution towards society through their third sector activity. This year we have joint winners for our Outstanding Achievement Award,
Alyson Smith, founder and manager of Lochaber Hope and Karrie Marshall, Director and chief officer of Creativity in Care.
Third Sector Organisation of the Year – For recognition of an outstanding Third Sector Organisation in Highland. This award recognises excellence in a field of exemplary peers and as such you need to be able to explain why the organisation is a sector leader in impact, sustainability, values and commitment. Awarded to Befrienders Highland for creating a person-centred organisation, committed to supporting and raising awareness of people with mental ill health issues. 140 volunteers across Highland.
