Community Hero
Ross scores footy award
Arran High School pupil Ross Dobson has been awarded the Kilmarnock FC’s Community Hero award for his altruistic work within the community, both in the football arena as well as with the youth on Arran in general.
Ross received the accolade prior to a Kilmarnock v Hamilton Academical match where he presented the ball to the match referee.
The nomination for the Community Hero award came from Graeme Johnston from Arran Youth Foundations who has worked with Ross on a number of projects.
Graeme said: ‘I know Ross through my work on Arran as Youth Work Project Manager for Arran Youth Foundations.
‘As a member of our youth forum, Ross helped spray paint and renovate our youth cabins, successfully approached Stagecoach about free extra-curricular buses for the cooking club, arranged the group’s visit to Arran Dairies, helped organise youth gigs, and has been involved in various fundraisers for the group.
‘He volunteers his time to help coach Arran United, a local team for primary children. Having completed an SFA coaching course, he now leads coaching twice weekly, and is involved in match day coaching at weekends.
‘Ross, who is a youth ambassador at Arran High School, has also completed his Young Leader sports qualification which has allowed him to help lead sports sessions for primary children with the Active Schools Coordinator.
‘There is hardly an activity or event on Arran which Ross has not been actively involved in, be it drama, sports or youth work. As part of his youth work with Arran Youth Foundations he has played an active role in assisting with the lunchtime drop-in, cooking, film-making, lacrosse, youth forum, running, and the Friday night youth club. He has played his part in the community by planting flowers for the local elderly housing, painting the church railings and delivering Christmas cards to raise youth group funds.
‘His involvement in community activity can be seen all over Arran – and further afield – making him a worthy candidate for the accolade. His characteristically humble response to receiving the award was to say thank you for the award and adding, ‘It was a brilliant day’.’