North Ayrshire's incredible volunteers have been honoured at a ceremony hosted by a local community group.
Based in Saltcoats, The Ayrshire Community Trust (TACT) have been providing invaluable volunteering opportunities to people across North Ayrshire for the past 20 years.
With the support of North Ayrshire Council, they joined up with other community partners including Arran CVS – a charity supporting Arran’s volunteering network - and North Ayrshire Council to mark Volunteers’ Week 2023, which ran from June 1-6.
The week began with a Third Sector Networking event on June 5 at Ardeer Community Centre where Café Solace volunteers provided a delicious lunch.
Then, the council pledged its support via a £750 donation to the main event – the Annual Volunteers’ Week Awards Ceremony, hosted by TACT and Arran CVS on Wednesday, June 7.
An annual celebration of North Ayrshire’s incredible volunteers, the evening ceremony gave the well-deserved recognition to local people who often go unnoticed.
TACT’s Volunteers Week Awards 2023 winner were as follows.
Ian Cassidy - winner of the Environmental & Heritage Award (presented by Ian McMeeking, Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire & Rescue)
Christina Smith - winner of the Food Sustainability Award (presented by Iain McGachie, TACT Director)
Lee-Anne Bratton - winner of the Health & Wellbeing Award (presented by Vicki Yuill, CEO of Arran Community and Voluntary Service
Kirkgate Church Care & Share - winner of The Ken Buchanan Award (presented by Kaileigh Brown, Executive Director, TACT)
Georgia Boyce - winner of the Support to the Community category (presented by Rhonda Leith, Head of Service Connected Communities, North Ayrshire Council)
Eglinton Community Garden Volunteers - winners of the stand-out Volunteer Team Award, presented by Depute Leader Cllr Shaun Macaulay)
Alan Hart - Young Volunteer Award winner (presented by Derek Frew, Superintendent, Partnerships Police Scotland
Kaileigh Brown, executive director at TACT, said: “Our annual awards really are our version of the Oscars to recognise our incredible volunteers here in North Ayrshire.
“This year marks the 39th year of Volunteers’ Week, when TACT joins thousands of charities and voluntary organisations recognising the contribution volunteers make across our communities.
“As a sector, we recognise the contribution of volunteers is often unseen and unrecognised by many, visible only through the incredible impact of their volunteering.
"Taking the time during Volunteers’ Week to celebrate their efforts and all these passionate individuals contribute to our local communities, the voluntary sector and society as a whole has never been more important.”
During the event, TACT thanked North Ayrshire Council, especially their communities and facilities management teams who continue to support volunteers and community groups across the area.
Kaileigh added: “Thank you to everyone who came together to make our Volunteers’ Week awards ceremony such a memorable evening.
“Special thanks also to Ardrossan Whitlees Community Centre for providing such a fantastic setting and catering for the event.”
Attending the evening celebration, NAC's depute leader, Councillor Shaun Macaulay, said: “From offering advice to local conservation groups to supporting employability projects like Eglinton Community Gardens, TACT have been doing an incredible job supporting the voluntary sector over the last 23 years.
“It is only right that we dedicate the past week to the superb work they do too, alongside all of the worthy Volunteers’ Week winners recognised and each and every other person who is selflessly volunteering their time here in North Ayrshire to empower and strengthen our communities.
“I would also like to share a special shout-out to volunteer Christina Smith who won the Food Sustainability Award for the help she has personally provided via her volunteering to Ardeer Community Larder.”
Christina has a young family and works a full-time job, yet still manages to generously donate her time each week to volunteer at Ardeer Community Larder.
During her many hours of volunteering, she has helped to upskill other volunteers and promote the larder so that they can help even more people locally to access food with dignity when they need it most.
Cllr Macaulay added: “The Ardeer larder is one of 14 community larders that form North Ayrshire’s Fairer Food network – a host of community-run food larders where members can access affordable food at a subsidised cost.
“Community larders are being run by our community, for our community. Without dedicated volunteers like Christina on the frontline, this important work simply wouldn’t be possible.
"Thank you so much to Christina and all of North Ayrshire’s larder volunteers who are going above and beyond for all of our residents week in and week out.
“During Christina’s many hours of volunteering, she has helped to train other volunteers so that they too can help residents through the Cost of Living crisis and access food with dignity when needed most.”
Visit the Volunteer Scotland website for current volunteering opportunities across North Ayrshire: https://tinyurl.com/2hdjncer
For more information on your local community larder, visit the 'Foodbanks and community larders' page at north-ayrshire.gov.uk.
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