Alexander named citizen of the year for school garden work
Clackmannanshire’s citizen of the year and young citizen of the year for 2019 were announced this week at an awards ceremony in Alloa. Alexander Harvey received the citizen of the year accolade, sponsored by the Lord Lieutenant’s Trust, for his work transforming the school garden at Alloa’s Park Primary into a quiet and safe learning space for children, helping them access outdoor learning activities, as well as running gardening and chess clubs to help nurture problems in several GP practices across Clackmannanshire and Falkirk West. This scheme is now set to expand and more than half of the area’s GP practices will have mental health nurses in place by the end of 2019.
Pharmacists have also begun working in practices in Falkirk town centre and in North West Stirling.
Work is underway to recruit another 10 pharmacy posts for Denny, Bonnybridge and Stenhousemuir. The pharmacists will undertake medicine reviews, deal with repeat prescriptions and ultimately hold clinics.
The employment of mental health nurses and pharmacists forms part of NHS Forth Valley’s primary care improvement plan. Others developments include the appointment of 10 advanced nurse practitioners who are currently under training, advanced physiotherapists, care home support nurses and practice nurse trainees. They will join the practice nurses, district nurses, health visitors, podiatrists and physiotherapists who already work at GP practices.
Primary care programme manager Lesley Middlemiss said: “There will be a broader range of expertise available at GP practices, helping with both young people’s interests and potential.
He has patiently shared his knowledge and expertise with pupils, as well as supporting many school trips.
The other finalists for the award were George Burnett, Alan Faulds, Marion Levett and Denise Moffat and Adrian Tobin.
Katherine Martin was named young citizen of the year for her involvement in sporting, science and mental health events, running an after school badminton club, volunteering weekly at a nursery and care home.
She also was a volunteer at last year’s Special Olympics in Stirling.
Katherine recently gave a presentation about good mental health at the WellBeing Scotland Conference, and is a sports leader within the council’s sports development team.
Runners up for Young Citizen of the Year were Lauren Binning who has volunteered for many charities while also becoming a Dux medallist and Scott Brough who gives up his spare time to help a number of causes and takes part in fundraising activities.
The other finalists for Young Citizen of the Year were S6 pupils at Alva Academy, Kara-Olivia Anderson, Leah Anderson and Eva Duncan, Sara Anwar, Jamie Noon & Emma Orr, Aiden Cribben, James Evans & Cameron Murphy, Sarah Harris and Martha Tindall.