Double success for Caithness in Highland Third Sector Awards
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There was a double celebration for Caithness in the Highland Third Sector Awards, the region's flagship ceremony for volunteers and community organisations.
Helen Allan, chairperson of Thurso Community Development Trust (TCDT) and Thurso Youth Club, was named as Board Trustee of the Year, while Caithness Community Connections, which supports local groups in east coast communities, received the Community Initiative Award for its work with Lybster Youth Clubs and Teen Café.
The awards are run by the Highland Third Sector Interface (HTSI) and the presentation ceremony took place at Strathpeffer Pavilion on Thursday night. Now in their ninth year, the awards seek to celebrate and showcase the inspirational efforts of the third sector in the Highlands.
Helen attended the event with TCDT development officer Joan Lawrie and board member Marion Reid.
Joan said: “We were so honoured to accompany Helen down to receive her award after nominating her a few months back. She is not only a wonderful individual to be around, but also one of the driving forces of change and improvement in Thurso, and we would be lost without her.
"Her award was well earned, and we couldn’t be prouder of her.”
Caithness Community Connections project coordinator Heather Urquhart said: "We were delighted to receive the Community Initiative Award for the work we do with Lybster Youth Clubs and our Teen Café.
"The community identified the need for activities for young people during various consultations and have supported us in developing the youth clubs and café. In turn, Lybster has appreciated the work the clubs and teens have done for their community, such as litter-picks, and the young people have felt more included in their community as a result.
"We managed to keep the youth clubs and café running – albeit in different formats – during the pandemic and we know this helped them feel connected and improved their sense of wellbeing through what was a very difficult time.
"To be recognised by the Highland Third Sector Interface for this work is a wonderful recognition of everyone's efforts."
The nominations for Helen said: "For both organisations the impact Helen has is huge. She has developed a thriving youth club and runs sessions for young people of all ages... Since taking over as chairperson of Thurso Youth Club she has secured core funding and also the first tranches of funding to redevelop what is an old mill building."
In her TCDT role, Helen was described as supportive and encouraging for both volunteers and staff.
"Helen always ensures that it is the needs of the community that are being addressed... She is empowering in supporting others to fulfil their potential. She is always on hand, from stepping in to cook meals for our older residents to letting the plumber in. Above all she leads on good governance."
Nominations for Lybster Youth Clubs and Teen Café highlighted their "big impact on the community" through activities ranging from crafts and games to litter-picks and helping with weeding in the local area. The positive aspects of continuing youth club activities during the pandemic had been commented on by many parents.
"Through listening to the children and young people in the youth club, the Caithness Community Connections team has built up strong relationships with most of their families and has been able to provide other support and help. This has ranged from helping out with school shoes to helping a parent think about their employment options."
HTSI chief officer Mhairi Wylie said: “When starting my role as chief officer in 2012, I noticed there wasn’t a place to showcase and celebrate everyone who was working so hard to actively make their communities and the world a better place.
"It is a privilege to be able to hear and take a small part in the individual stories of impact that surround the awards, not just in relation to our recipients but also in respect of every single nomination that is made.
“I believe that we can increase hopefulness and optimism by shining a light on the people and organisations that are there making a difference. By sharing their stories we can hold on to the idea that there is a better future ahead and something to continue working for – and in the current circumstances this seems more important than ever.”
The accolade of Third Sector Organisation of the Year went to Mikeysline, which supports people in the Highlands and Moray living in emotional distress, with mental health issues, or at risk of suicide.
Emily Stokes, CEO of Mikeysline, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have been named Third Sector Organisation of the Year. The last two years have been extremely difficult for so many people in the Highlands and Moray, and we are so pleased to be able to offer support to those who need it most.
“Sadly, the suicide rate in the Highlands is significantly higher than elsewhere in Scotland so it’s clear that more needs to be done to destigmatise the conversation surrounding mental health and suicide.
“In the last year, we have invested in new Hives [mental health and crisis support centres] across the Highlands to offer increased face-to-face support; launched new services specifically aimed at young people and men; and added four more options to our text-based listening service, with WhatsApp being the most recent additional option.
“We’d like to thank the judges at HTSI for recognising the work that we do, and for supporting us as we continue to expand our services across the region. We want everyone that may be struggling to know that it’s okay not to be okay, and that help and support is available.”
The judges of the HTSI Awards were impressed by Mikeyline’s dedication to championing changes to the approach to stigma around mental health and suicide in the region, and acknowledged that much had been achieved since 2015 by the charity when it was established in the face of tragedy to offer hope to others.
Winners of the HTSI Awards for 2021:
- Board Trustee of the Year: Helen Allan, chairperson of Thurso Community Development Trust and Thurso Youth Club
- Community Initiative Award: Lybster Youth Clubs and Teen Café (part of Caithness Community Connections)
- Community Justice Excellence: Addictions Counselling Inverness (ACI)
- Highland Partnership Award: Parkinson's UK, High Life Highland and NHS Highland
- LGOWIT (Let's Get on With It Together) Self-Management Award: June Strath (Nairn area)
- Third Sector Organisation of the Year: Mikeysline
- Youth Volunteer of the Year: Shadi Ali (Alness)
- Volunteer of the Year: Bill Whyte, Befrienders Highland (Inverness)
- HTSI Staff Member of the Year: Gemma Cooper, Custody Link worker (Culbokie)
- HTSI Partner of the Year: Police Scotland
- Outstanding Achievement 2021: Donald Macleod
