The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Douglas is honoured as top Scottish volunteer
Hospice campaigner used social media to help hundreds of children
Pioneering social media work by a volunteer at Rachel House Children’s Hospice in Kinross has been celebrated at a national awards ceremony.
Tech wiz Douglas Cameron was instrumental in setting up an influential Facebook campaign for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland, better known as CHAS.
The charity was among the first in the world to use the social media giant’s Workplace platform to help reach hundreds of helpers, children and families throughout Scotland.
It united more than 900 people who were able to share information and experiences, from fundraising in the Highlands to providing therapy to two hospices at either side of the country.
Douglas also developed a userfriendly “bot” – named CHASbot – to answer questions from volunteers.
This generated significant levels of interest from other charities across the UK, which have in turn been inspired to develop the technology to use themselves.
Douglas, from St Andrews, saw his hard work recognised at the Hospice UK awards in Shropshire, where he was crowned Volunteer of the Year.
The 49-year-old said: “I am a very proud advocate of CHAS and it is very humbling to represent all the good that so many people do. Volunteering gives me a tremendous sense of worth. CHAS staff add to that by always making me feel valued, so winning the award is a very unexpected additional recognition.
“I’ve had a working knowledge of CHAS from back when I managed a social work team, and since then the CHAS collection box has been my go-to for donations.”
CHAS volunteering development manager Morven MacLean said: “We are thrilled to see Douglas recognised for his efforts in this way.”
“It is very humbling to represent all the good that so many people do. DOUGLAS CAMERON