Digital Volunteer Awards Ceremony 2021

Falkirk’s Volunteer Awards Ceremony is back for 2021, launching in a brand new digital format via YouTube (linked for your convenience). The awards ceremony video will go live at 7pm on Thursday 3^rd June (during Volunteers’ Week), and will be available to watch from then at any point.

Volunteers from across Falkirk’s local communities have been integral to COVID-19 response efforts, doing everything from delivering food parcels and prescriptions, to shovelling pavements in bad weather and putting out their neighbours’ bins.  In recognition of this, CVS Falkirk decided now was the perfect time to bring back the awards ceremony, to celebrate and thank those who have given their time to help others during these most challenging of times for us all.

Nominations were opened in April, with winners in each of the 5 categories decided by an independent panel, made up of:

• Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, leader of Falkirk Council
• Donald Johnston of the local team at Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
• Margaret Coutts BEM, a volunteer with Falkirk and Central Scotland Samaritans, who was recently named on the Queen’s 2020 Birthday Honours List for her commitment to volunteering

The panel faced an extremely difficult decision, with an incredible range of nominations and stories submitted.  They said:

“This year’s Volunteer Awards, like so many other aspects to our lives, were a bit different. We have been through such a mix of emotions looking at the nominations and reflecting what we have all come through over the last year. Without the huge effort of many hundreds of people across the District who volunteer within our communities, we would not have been able to deliver and sustain the community response over the last 18 months, particularly at the height of the pandemic, and even now as we begin to emerge and look to support communities through the recovery phase.

The quality of all the nominations submitted, and there were many of them, were very high and each one had a compelling story giving us (the Panel) a real challenge in just choosing one in each category as they were all worthy of commendations. Our thanks go to all nominees and those organisations and individuals who took the time to nominate, and to CVS Falkirk for their organisation and allowing us to be part of Volunteers Week.”

Each winner will receive a prize donated by generous local businesses:  Sanam Tandoori, Mango in Longcroft, The Cotton House, Gambero Rosso, and The Corbie Inn.

CVS Falkirk’s Chairperson, David Mellor (a volunteer himself), said:

“Never in recent times have volunteers played such a crucial role as during this pandemic. Not only in the high profile work in food banks, but also engaging with the communities generally and with numerous examples of individual kindness, all of which merit recognition.

This is why it’s important to celebrate volunteers’ efforts, and why CVS Falkirk has organised this year’s special awards ceremony.

It’s hard not to be moved by the stories behind individual awards and I am really looking forward to hearing from this year’s winners.

In a year dominated by the pandemic, we have also seen a heightened focus on mental health, where  volunteering has played a vital role in contributing to the wellbeing of many people across the community – including the volunteers themselves, as I know myself.

Over a career spanning 50 years, I have found that volunteering has given me a balanced perspective on life, and opportunities to help people. Having lived in a number of towns and cities across the UK, I have been able to give back to the communities that have given me a living.

After many years of frontline volunteering, I now have the pleasure of continuing to contribute as Chair of CVS Falkirk and District; I am grateful of this unique opportunity to make a difference, and continue to see the difference made by other volunteers throughout Falkirk.”

CVS Falkirk would like to say another thank you to the amazing volunteers across Falkirk, for their time, efforts and commitment to our wonderful area and the people here.

Tune in for the 2021 Volunteer Awards Ceremony via YouTube from 7pm on Thursday 3^rd June, or at any point afterwards.

Update: You can also read about the winners on the CVS Falkirk website.

For further information on volunteering in Falkirk and ways you can help out in your community, please contact CVS Falkirk by email:  info@cvsfalkirk.org.uk