Good Award Winners Announced
Charities & Volunteers Recognised as Highland 3rd Sector Stars
Charities, community groups, volunteers and their family and friends will all converge on the Strathpeffer Pavilion on Thursday night for an evening of celebration and thanks at the fourth Highland Third Sector Awards. The Awards recognise and celebrate voluntary and charitable activity throughout the region, including exemplary young people who will be presented with their Saltire Summit certificates for outstanding voluntary achievement.
Over 150 guests will be there to see groups such as The Highland Cross, Black Isle Cares and Brook Highland receive awards for their ongoing work in varying categories. Several incredible people will also be recognised for their commitment and contribution to various groups and causes; including Highland Hospice, Badenoch and Strathspey Community Transport Company and Girlguiding.
Mhairi Wylie, Chief Officer with the Highland Third Sector Interface (HTSI) explains;
“Without a doubt this is the best evening of the year for the HTSI and myself in particular. I can’t say that it was an easy process though as the judges faced an incredible challenge because of the quality of nominations. A heartfelt congratulations to all of our Award winners, as they certainly well deserved this recognition, but we hope that the evening is a chance to celebrate the spirit and achievements of the whole sector through their stories and experience.
“I’m really excited now for the evening and we are putting the final touches to the preparations to try and make it as special as possible for all our guests. For us it is especially nice to see that this evening allows individuals receiving awards to share something of their experience and work with friends and family. It is actually quite touching to see what it means to the people accompanying the volunteers and staff receiving awards.”
The Awards themselves have been beautifully hand crafted by Alison Weightman from Arts in Merkinch and were commissioned as part of the HTSI commitment to showcasing the talent and products available from the Third Sector here in Highland. The ceremony itself will be held in the Strathpeffer Pavilion, its self a third sector venue, and through touches like this the entire evening is intended to be a celebration of the diversity and depth of the Highland Third Sector. Entertainment on the evening will be provided by young musicians Imogen Islay Hay and Emma Stewart who are volunteering their time to contribute to the ceremony.
The awards will be presented this year by Mr Drew Hendry MP and prior to the presentation ceremony he will provide a reflection on the role and achievements of the broader sector. Mr Hendry explained;
“It is a real pleasure to be asked to present the awards and highlight the passion and commitment people put into helping others in our communities - often committing a staggering amount of time and effort in the process. The contribution of our Third Sector partners, put simply, means that others can lead more rewarding lives and that many have help and support they would not be able to access. These awards have aptly called our volunteers "Highland Stars" and, of course, that is exactly what all the volunteers across the Highlands are."
The Award Winners for 2016 are:
Highland Partnership of 2016
Black Isle Cares, Meals on Wheels Team
Board Trustee of the Year 2016
Norman MacDonald, Highland Hospice
Community Initiative of 2016
Highland Cross & The Highlands Supports Refugees
Reducing Vulnerability through 3rd Sector Activity
Brook Highlands, All Different, All Beautiful Programme
Youth Volunteer of 2016
Nicole Larnach, Funky Friday Dance Club & Brad Habberley, Highland hospice
Volunteer of the year 2016
Neil Kendall, Badenoch and Strathspey Community Transport Company
Outstanding Achievement 2016
Joy Roberts, Badenoch and Strathspey Community Transport Company & Moira McKenna, Girlguiding Ross-Shire
Good Neighbour of 2016
Andrew and Frances Nixseaman
The following young people will be awarded a Saltire Summit Award:
Adam Cowan
Dawn Cowie
Oakley Cundall
Kirsty Evans
Sophie Grimmond
Brandon Gunn
Brad Habberley
Kieran Jamieson
Joanna Keith
Mithran Macaden
Abigael Macgregor
Isla Mackay
Orla Mackenzie
Rhia Mackenzie
Gregor Macmillian
Rachael Mitchell
Siobhan laing
David Saunders
John Munro
Additionally the Highland Third Sector Interface will recognise:
Kathryn Talbot Heigh for her outstanding contribution as a member of staff within the Third Sector Interface.
Also in recognition of their support for the refugee resettlement activities that HTSI has been involved in, the following groups will receive a joint recognition award as the HTSI Partner of the Year 2016:
The Highlands Supports Refugees Rosskeen Free Church
Milnafua Community Group Highland Council
Police Scotland NHS Highland
Highland Multi Cultural Friends Inverness Mosque
New Start Highland Global Languages
The Job Centre Plus HTSI Refugee Volunteers
Highlife Highland
The Press are welcome to attend the event by prior arrangement. For more details or to arrange a attendance/photo please contact Mhairi Wylie on 01349 864289 or email chiefofficer@highlandtsi.org.uk
The Highland Third Sector Interface (HTSI) has opened nominations for the fourth Highland Third Sector Awards. The Awards recognise and celebrate voluntary and charitable activity throughout the region. Categories include Volunteer of the Year, Outstanding Achievement and new additions like Environmental Project 2016 and 2016 Good Neighbour Award.
Mhairi Wylie, Chief Officer with the HTSI, explains;
“Here in Highland we have one of the largest and prolific third sectors in Scotland. It is key to the health and wellbeing of people who live here and an important part of our rural economy. Like other sectors it is right that we take some time to truly celebrate this at least once a year.
“Although we are only able to present a small number of awards each year I am conscious that this is still one of the most exciting parts of my job. People forget that for a lot of people volunteering or working for a community group or charity can often require a sacrifice to your family and personal life. This is why the Award evening is all the more special because people get to share it with their family, friends and colleagues.
“I’m really excited that we are ready to launch the nominations and look forward to working with the Judges and the staff team here at HTSI to ensure these awards are the best yet.”
The awards are judged by a panel formed from people volunteering and working within the third sector as well as public sector partners. The panel will consider nominations on the 8th of August before the ceremony on the 25th August at Strathpeffer Pavilion.
The awards will also include the presentation of Saltire Summit Awards for Outstanding Achievements in Youth Volunteering. Summit Awards are judged by a panel of young people who have themselves achieved the award. Nominations are also open for this and youth workers, organisations and schools are asked to put forward any eligible young people for consideration.
Mhairi Wylie, Chief Officer with the HTSI, explains;
“Here in Highland we have one of the largest and prolific third sectors in Scotland. It is key to the health and wellbeing of people who live here and an important part of our rural economy. Like other sectors it is right that we take some time to truly celebrate this at least once a year.
“Although we are only able to present a small number of awards each year I am conscious that this is still one of the most exciting parts of my job. People forget that for a lot of people volunteering or working for a community group or charity can often require a sacrifice to your family and personal life. This is why the Award evening is all the more special because people get to share it with their family, friends and colleagues.
“I’m really excited that we are ready to launch the nominations and look forward to working with the Judges and the staff team here at HTSI to ensure these awards are the best yet.”
The awards are judged by a panel formed from people volunteering and working within the third sector as well as public sector partners. The panel will consider nominations on the 8th of August before the ceremony on the 25th August at Strathpeffer Pavilion.
The awards will also include the presentation of Saltire Summit Awards for Outstanding Achievements in Youth Volunteering. Summit Awards are judged by a panel of young people who have themselves achieved the award. Nominations are also open for this and youth workers, organisations and schools are asked to put forward any eligible young people for consideration.
