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AT the height of the Syrian refugee crisis, an island community came together to offer the warmest of welcomes, support and hope to families fleeing war and persecution.
In 2015, 24 Syrian families arrived on the Isle of Bute as part of the UK’s pledge to welcome 20,000 people fleeing the war-torn country.
At a time when not everyone in Britain was open to new arrivals, the people of Bute were determined to help the families get settled.
Angela Cunningham led the island’s reception committee, and also helped organise donations of everything from shoes and blankets to spices and chickpeas to make the newcomers feel welcome. Angela also repurposed the food bank she runs on Bute, one of Scotland’s most deprived areas, to help the new residents.
Five years on, 17 families remain on Bute, putting down roots including some who have started their own businesses including a hairdresser, Syrian takeaway and bakery. They learned English and the children are a part of the local schools, speaking English with broad Scottish accents. Other families settled elsewhere in Scotland.
In one of the most heartwarming moments of Pride of Scotland, actress Blythe Duff travelled to Bute to meet the islanders, old and new, and discover what makes them so deserving of the
TSB Community Heroes award.
In an open-air presentation in Rothesay, she told them: “I can’t tell you how much of a privilege this is, not only to be back on the Isle of Bute, which has a special place in my heart, but just to be amongst the community because I know how well you embrace people on this island.
“And I know for a fact that’s what you’ve done, so I’m delighted to award you the Pride of Scotland TSB Community Heroes award.”
SINCE it was founded in 1976, the Prince’s Trust has helped a million young people get their lives on track. Reece Hayes from Glasgow is one of their most remarkable success stories, overcoming a traumatic childhood to dedicate himself to helping others.
He found out he is a Pride of Scotland winner on a trip to Essex, where he thought he was taking part in some filming for the Prince’s Trust.
In fact, the filming venue was the home of Sir Rod Stewart and Lady Penny Lancaster, and the couple themselves were waiting to surprise Reece with news of his award.
Rod and Penny, both Prince’s Trust ambassadors, invited a stunned Reece to join them for a chat, before Rod revealed the gleaming Pride of Scotland trophy.
Rod said: “How cool is that? Pick it up mate. That’s all yours. And it’s well deserved. Your mum would be very proud. I bet she’s looking down at you right now. I’ll tell you what, if I was your father I’d be extremely proud of you. Well done Reece.”
Reece’s story is inspirational. He struggled to cope as a young carer, and his life was thrown into turmoil when his mum witnessed a killing, and the family were moved into witness protection.
Reece said: “I was a carer for my mum since I was 11. It could be very manic and difficult to deal with because of the challenges around poor mental health. Eventually the cracks started to show; I got into fights at school, I was depressed, and filled with hatred.”
Realising that living at home was only exacerbating the problem, Reece moved out and spent five months in a homeless unit before securing his own tenancy. Yet despite this change in living situation, he still found it difficult to cope.
“I went clubbing all the time, I drank, got into fights, got arrested. I was suicidal and didn’t care what happened to me. Then one day, I’d had enough. After narrowly missing a jail sentence, I got a mental health assessment, was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, given medication and support from a counsellor, and referred to The Prince’s Trust.”
That was the moment Reece’s life changed. He won a place on Get into Retail, a Prince’s Trust programme giving unemployed young people the skills and experience they need to find work.
He said: “Getting that chance to change meant everything. After the course I got a job with Tesco and was then invited to be a Prince’s Trust Young Ambassador.
“Talking at events about my life and about the Trust and the issues facing young people felt good. It made me feel proud of how far I’ve come. I now see my career in mental health. I want to draw on my experiences to help others.”
Since then Reece has shared his story with other young people, politicians and charities to help them learn from his experiences. He volunteered with prisoners to help them cope after release, and worked with the Scottish government, police and councils to change the way they work with young people leaving care.
He is now studying for a social work degree and working with adults with disabilities.