Jura and Janie top list for volunteer awards
Volunteering takes time, commitment and a lot of hard work – so it is only right that those who provide so much support for communities are thanked.
Volunteers from the length and breadth of Argyll and Bute were honoured at this year’s Volunteer of the Year awards, which were organised by Argyll and Bute Third Sector Interface.
The event, on September 7 in Helensburgh, celebrated the huge contribution volunteers make – whether that is manning a charity shop counter, supporting carers, carrying out beach cleans or just being a friend to someone in need.
Out of the many hundreds of people who give up their time to volunteer, the awards recognised those who have gone over and above in categories including regional heroes, individual volunteer of the year, young volunteer of the year and health volunteer of the year.
Janie Steele, from Oban, collected the regional hero award for her work on conservation and awareness raising on issues such as palm oil.
The prestigious social enterprise of the year award was presented to Jura Development Trust, which, among many other things, is ensuring the residents of Jura have access to council services by maintaining the service point on the island.
Gareloch Riding for the Disabled, Rhu and Shandon Gala and Strachur Hub were the three finalists for organisation of the year, with the winners chosen on the day by a secret ballot that saw Gareloch RDA receiving £500. Both runners-up received £250.
The top award – the Sargus Memorial prize – was awarded to Fiona Donald, from Helensburgh, who will be using the prize to ensure that she takes a break and sees the world.