Volunteer Awards

Volunteer of the Year Finalists 

And the Winner is…Francis Smith, Dundee Community Transport

About: Francis has volunteered on the Out & About bus since it’s launch back in November 2018. The Out & bus is aimed at the over 65 community in Dundee to help get people out and about and to help prevent social isolation. He volunteers from 9.30am until about 2pm 5 days a week and has only ever missed a couple of days!

The Nominator said: ‘Francis gives up his time to help our elderly passengers get out and about on a daily basis going above and beyond the usual role of a volunteer. He is dedicated and committed to the service running as smoothly as possible and likes to be involved in every aspect of the organisation of the bus trips. He helps to decide on places to visit and uses his extensive knowledge of Dundee and the surrounding area to help pick places that he thinks our passengers will enjoy.’      

Kathryn Mackenzie Make a Difference Finalists

And the Winner is…Ann Brown, BeFriends Limited

About: Ann has spent seven of her 10 years with BeFriends, working with a young girl throughout her formative years to build a strong befriending relationship. Meeting with her almost every week for around four hours each time, Ann provides a welcoming, friendly face and is a trustworthy companion from outside the family setting with whom she engages voluntarily. Ann offers an empathetic listening ear and in invaluable supply of coping strategies to help her overcome her often debilitating worries and behaviours.

The Nominator said: ‘Ann approaches befriending with modesty and humility. She states that she is privileged to be part of M’s life and she does so with unwavering resourcefulness. This is despite having numerous demanding family commitments and supporting young adults in her hectic professional student support role.’

Lifetime Achievement Finalists

And the Winner is…Elizabeth Waine, Alternatives Dundee

About: Elizabeth has been a dedicated member of the Alternatives team since the organisation began in 1994. Elizabeth has supported the organisation over the years through various changes, challenges and celebrations. Elizabeth was one of the first volunteers who set up Alternatives and throughout the last 28 years, has taken on multiple roles, such as support worker, centre manager, administration assistant and trainer many of which were on a voluntary basis.

The Nominator said: ‘Elizabeth has always shown dedication and reliability to the organisation and is always welcoming to new team members and volunteers. Elizabeth is always happy to share her insights and thoughts with team members/volunteers and provides a listening ear whenever she is in the office. Her supportive leadership style encourages others to try new things and innovate, always supportive of new ideas and encouraging of what each new team member has to bring.’

Volunteer Team of the Year Finalists

And the Winner is…Kirkton Community Larder

About: Kirkton Community Larder was established as a direct response to the needs of the Kirkton community and was formed as a Kirkton Community Centre Local Management Group Initiative in June 2019.

The Nominator said: ‘The group quickly attracted a core group of very active volunteers from within the local community, including users of the service themselves – which is beneficial to the group as they can give a different perspective to the service. They all wished to give something back to their community and support others as they had been supported.’

Trustee/Board Member of the Year Finalists 

And the Winner is…Shiona Baird, Tayside Re-Users

About: Shiona Baird has a lifetime of community service and energetic dedication to the needs of others. Tayside Re-Users has been Shiona’s “baby” and her dedicated focus since she joined in 1997. Since her earliest involvement. TR has changed and developed, moved premises to accommodate its expanding inventory and won major awards towards its way of reducing the carbon footprint. Shiona stepped forward and took the chair of TR in 2009.

The Nominator said: ‘She has energetically led the organisation to where we are now with an increasingly professionalized Board, active plans for improving and expanding TR’s activities and the beginnings of a programme to buy and refurbish the existing mill in which the charity operates. Ownership and refurbishment of the mill: a very major part of Shiona’s vision, will allow TR to seriously improve what it does and start to offer the range of training and other opportunities that are such a key part of the TR vision.’

Volunteer Manager/Co-ordinator Finalists

And the Winner is…Caitlyn Tadden-Paterson, Link Up Whitfield

About: Caitlyn’s role is to support volunteers within  various Link Up + activities including Women’s group, Food Larder, and the ASN Family Group. Caitlyn helps to build the capacity of our volunteers so that they feel valued, get the necessary training that they need and help them to develop their group in the way that they want to.

The Nominator said: ‘Caitlyn listens to what the volunteers want or need and helps them to do it for themselves, so that she is helping to build their capacity, learn new skills, and build their confidence. She supports them when needed but allows them to explore new ideas and develop new groups too. Caitlyn makes sure that the volunteers are thanked for their hard work by making sure that there are various celebrations for them throughout the year such as a Christmas party, volunteer meals out, Saltire awards for the 12-25 year olds, nominating volunteers for awards, encouraging them to take part in the Activate course or Adult Achievement Awards.’

COVID 19 Community Response Volunteer Finalists

And the Winner is…Tam McCabe, Dundee West Football Club

About: As part of Dundee West’s Community Help Initiative, Tam spent time each day reaching out to residents to provide shopping, collect prescriptions, walk dogs, and make over 250 phone calls to say hello and encourage vulnerable residents to stay at home and avoid exposure to the virus. Connecting the football club with the school hub enabled Tam to deliver weekly socially distanced fitness activities promoting health and well-being, along with theory-based sessions to improve social skills. As lockdown restrictions eased, Tam pulled together local groups to run a brand-new street fitness initiative for families to take part in dance and Zumba from their gardens.

The Nominator said: ‘Football is more than a game! The passion of Dundee West’s club volunteer, Tam McCabe, has ensured his work has connected the community in aid of hundreds of vulnerable families. Tam has contributed to packing and distributing over 1200 food parcels to over 120 families through his support for the Kirkton Food Larder. With some families unable to leave their homes, Tam volunteered his time to making over 185 drop offs. Food parcels were left at the door and Tam ensured residents collected safely and checked in to make sure they were okay.’

COVID 19 Community Response Volunteer Team Finalists

And the Winner is…Dundee West Football Club

About: Volunteers led on the club’s focus supporting the Kirkton Community Food Larders. In partnership with Kirkton Community Centre and The Attic, Dundee West volunteers helped pack over 1,200 food parcels for over 120 vulnerable families per week so they could avoid travelling to shops and spending money during such difficult times.

The Nominator said: ‘the ability to understand the needs of the community is a huge part of being able to help families and children in such difficult circumstances! Dundee West’s ability to acknowledge that so many families were struggling to keep children active and healthy but knowing some did not have technology or online devices ensured Dundee West were able to break barriers down and reach out to many vulnerable families.’