‘So many people stepped forward to deliver food, medicine, walk dogs...’

potential risks to physical and mental health of people left alone to fend for themselves, cut-off as we were from friends and family.

‘So many people stepped forward to help deliver food, medicine, walk dogs, pick up deliveries and provide valuable socially-distant human support.’

Mr Sulaiman added that in Argyll and Bute, more than 1,000 volunteers made themselves available by adding their names to the portal developed by Argyll and Bute TSI with support from Argyll and Bute Council.

‘On top of this, there was a myriad of unrecorded acts of support, humanity and kindness carried out by charities, community groups and informal networks,’ he said.

‘It has shown us that whilst public services can and must deliver vital core services – and they should be properly funded – we can only build resilient and sustainable communities if we all lend a hand.

‘At the same time, volunteering must not be seen as a cheap way to cover gaps in public services caused by austerity. It has to add something different or value added and that is often related to a personal touch.’

Mr Sulaiman added: ‘As someone who is new in post, I have had the pleasure of meeting many people over the past few weeks who were able to share their stories of help and support given in kindness at a moment of need.

‘For instance, the seasonal workers stranded in Kintyre with no recourse to public funds helped by local people to volunteers shopping for those unable to leave their homes.’

Before the pandemic, according to figures collated by Volunteer Scotland, 25 per cent of people in Argyll and Bute volunteered formally through an organisation or a group.

In 2018-19 they provided a staggering 2.7 million hours of help, worth more than £35 million to the local economy.

‘Argyll and Bute TSI is working hard to see how this volunteering model can be extended and supported so that we avoid volunteer fatigue,’ said Mr Sulaiman.

‘Our awards are just one small way of saying thank you but it has to be backed up by support so watch this space over the coming year for our plans to further support volunteering in Argyll and Bute.’