Didn't they do well!
We were excited when a number of LDVG volunteers were shortlisted in the VASLan Volunteer Awards 2019. On Thursday 12th September, the finalists, with support from a number of staff and Anne Alston representing the Board, attended the event held at the Radstone Hotel.
Our first winner was Betty Carnihan who won Long Serving Volunteer of the Year! Betty was recognised for over 22 years volunteering with LDVG over a number of groups, being available to help at the drop of a hat and for going above and beyond to make sure our members have a fantastic experience with us.
The next winner was Cailean Stillie who won Young Volunteer of the Year! Cailean volunteers with LDVG and other charities, and despite his own health concerns, has been instrumental in the set up of Stilmac Productions and Sparks Connections, helping other young adults with additional support needs.
Last but not least, was Jim McCann and Quintin Cassidy, who won Volunteer of the Year as the driving team for the Gypsy Traveller Education Group (GTeC)! Both Jim and Quintin are dedicated to ensuring these young people are able to access their education - which means 7am bus checks before they leave to collect the pupils from their homes. They then do the journey again in reverse to get the pupils home at the end of the day - a long day for volunteers!
We are so proud of all of our volunteers at LDVG, and these 4 have highlighted the wonderful work our volunteers do as part of the LDVG volunteering team. Well done everyone and well deserved!
SPT Funding Success!
We are delighted to share that our community transport project, which provides transport services for various community groups in the area, has been awarded more than £46,400 SPT grant funding. Our service provides affordable community transport across the community so users can access various services and activities such as transporting older people to their lunch clubs and providing access to education services for children in the travelling community. This year we will launch a volunteer car scheme to access medical appointments, and we are seeking to continue a pilot scheme to operate a shopping bus service for those living in an area of Larkhall.
The £46,456 funding from SPT will be used to cover the running costs of the transport service during 2019/20.
SPT Chair Councillor Dr Martin Bartos said:
“Community transport plays an essential role for many living in some of our most deprived and disadvantaged areas. By meeting the needs of users so they can get out and about to their clubs and societies, community transport ensures people stay connected to their communities reducing feelings of loneliness and social isolation.
“LDVG carries out vital work in the community and SPT is very proud to support its efforts through this grant funding. The wealth of groups and people LDVG helps is wide and varied whether it be ensuring older members get to their lunch club and home again, to ensuring access to NHS appointments or helping children in the travelling community access educational services, they do tremendous work.”
LDVG charity manager Sandra McCrory said:
“This funding from SPT will be used to support the running costs of LDVG over the next year. We hope to be able to continue some of our pilot projects such as the shopping bus for older residents which was highlighted as a priority for the Strutherhill & Birkenshaw area. We will be considering ways to continue this shopping service to meet the needs of the wider community.
“Services such as these are key to achieving our group’s overall strategic aims, which are, to improve the health and wellbeing of the community by reducing physical and social isolation through use of our community transport fleet. We do this by ensuring those in our community can access hard to reach venues and offer variety to their week which increases their sense of community and connection to those around them.”
