Tag: Fet-Lor Youth Club

Summer of fun as Fet Lor shares in Scotmid Community Connect awards

Three good causes across the East of Scotland have been awarded a share of a £25,000 funding pot, thanks to Scotmid Co-operative’s Community Connect award scheme.

Sepsis Research (FEAT) secured £15,000 in funding, with FetLor Youth Club and You’re Never Too Old (YNTO) both receiving a £5,000 award. The charities were shortlisted by the community retailer to receive the lifeline financial support helping them to continue carrying out their vital work within their communities.

Each organisation delivers a range of different services, aimed at supporting and enhancing the lives of others:

  • Sepsis Research (FEAT) strives to identify why some people are more affected by sepsis than others. Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection when your body’s immune system overreacts, and this can quickly lead to multiple organ failure. Funding from Scotmid will be used to research genetic variants, target new treatments and improve survival rates for those affected.
  • FetLor Youth Club provides services, including free activities and hot meals, for children and young people aged 7 to 17 in North Edinburgh, many of whom come from disadvantaged areas. Funding from Scotmid will be used to host the 2022 Summer programme which supports over 1000 people, allowing children and their families can spend time together and enjoy life changing experiences.
  • You’re Never Too Old (YNTO) supports older socially isolated people living in their own homes in the North-West area of Edinburgh.  Twice a week they provide transport for members to the club where they take part in stimulating activities, days out and enjoy lunch together. Reducing isolation, making new friends and creating memories is at the heart of everything You’re Never Too Old do. Funding from Scotmid will be used to help cover transportation costs.

Dr Richie Adams, Chief Executive at FetLor Youth Club, said: ” FetLor is delighted to receive this award from Scotmid.  We will use the £5,000 funding to give young people a fantastic summer holiday of fun and educational experiences.  

“Our programme of events brings communities together and offers opportunities many of our members may not, otherwise, be able to access.  Our summer programme is all about giving our young people the best summer ever!”

Colin Graham, Chief Operating Officer from Sepsis Research, said: “Sepsis is a devastating condition that can kill a previously healthy adult or child in hours. We are therefore delighted to have been awarded £15,000.

“This funding will allow us collect, store and process patient DNA samples and investigate why some people get so sick from sepsis and others make a fully recovery.  The hope in the future is that this research will be able to develop new treatments so more lives can be saved.”

Anne Stewart from You’re Never Too Old, said: “YNTO is absolutely delighted we have been awarded funding of £5,000.

“We would like to thank Scotmid and all the members for voting for YNTO. The funding is extremely important and will ensure we continue to make a difference to older, socially isolated people.”

Since Scotmid’s Community Connect launched in 2017, more than £500,000 has been awarded to 54 good cause groups enabling key projects to continue operating in their local areas.

Harry Cairney, President of Scotmid, said: “Community Connect is one of the core ways in which we are able to support the communities we serve.

“We have seen first-hand how local charities and good cause groups have provided a vital lifeline to many people, particularly over the course of the pandemic, whilst also facing new challenges of their own.

“We are truly delighted to award these good causes with this funding support, which will help them continue providing vital services within their own communities.”

Running for Fet-Lor

Amy and Sara are running the Edinburgh Half Marathon next month and Ryan is doing the full 26.2 miles.

They are running this for FetLor.

Everything they raise will go towards our Summer Programme. Last year we put on a 5 week programme that included 24 trips to lots of different activities including Fox Lake, Bridge 8 and North Berwick.

All our trips are free and can only happen thanks to the support of people like Ryan, Sara and Amy. If you can, please sponsor them.

Heres a link to their Just Giving page:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/amy-henderson14

Fet Lor’s Jim Fisher: an appreciation

JIM FISHER – Eulogy

by GEORGE REAVLEY

I have been asked to say a few words by Mary and to pass on our thanks from people who knew Jim, but it is tinged with great sadness and regret. Even in these trying times of social distancing, people just wanted to show their appreciation for Jim today and say their goodbye’s to a Fet Lor legend.

Jim was a jovial character and an inspiration to many young people who met him. Jim was Scottish and proud of it, strict but fair. He loved to wear his various shades of tartan and he was the kind of guy who liked to get things done in a certain way. “My way” as we were reminded at the start!

A few weeks ago Jim got chatting to a Clinical Support Worker when he was in Ward 27 at the Western General. Seeing her name badge, Jim realised it was my daughter and she was asked to phone me to let me know. Fortunately, Jim never revealed that I had been a wee tearaway sometimes in the club and luckily for me, he was always good at keeping your secrets safe!

Jim was a mentor to me and many others. He was a positive role model for young people who were unsure how to behave in life’s tricky route to becoming an adult.

Like Jim, I got an Apprenticeship at 16 and he had a hand in helping me write letters to get my first job. So I started working as a Floor-layer and became a voluntary youth leader in the same year.

I was inspired by Jim and his ability to think positively with a glass half full attitude. He would say if you want something badly enough you will get it but you need to do the homework first!

I was fortunate to learn from Jim as a teenager then as a volunteer and a part time youth worker. Fet-Lor was actually a Boys only club when I first went in the mid seventies. Jim had a vision for the Club and at one point the club was open seven days a week!

It was indeed a vocational job for the dynamic duo that was Jim and Mary.

They regularly worked longer hours than they should have. However, Jim knew the value of being prepared from his coaching days and was always ready and willing to do any extra work to get the job done right.

We used to have competitions and sponsored discos and ‘all nighters’ to raise much needed cash for the club. It was a brilliant atmosphere in the Club which was fostered by Jim & Mary.

It was changed in the eighties after many requests from males and females who wanted to turn it into a youth centre. Jim realised that the place needed to change and to offer more opportunities for girls and single sex work in a youth work setting.

As usual, Jim would need to tinker with the mechanics of the ‘new’ club which saw the disco room becoming the new girls room/computer room! This all dovetailed into the meticulous planning and practice that was part of Jim’s work ethic and DNA.

Jim was a great club leader and showed us by example how it should be done. Clean living, hard – working, determined to do the best he could. This summed up how Jim lived his life.

He never stopped trying and he was always reflecting on how to be better at everything. He had a lust for life and was always looking for ways to improve.

He had an unquenchable thirst for learning new activities no matter what the subject matter was. Video work, air rifle shooting, carpentry, calligraphy, snooker, table tennis & boxing just to name a few!

He never stood still and was always on the go and he loved to learn about new places and travel to these locations.

Jim created the opportunity for young people to go on our very first trip abroad. He was like a father figure in our lives as some of us never had a really good male role model to look up to.

This was a huge deal for us as we were relatively poor working class kids who could hardly afford a holiday abroad. We completed practice weekend Residentials to Bailleymill Farm, etc to see how we behaved. Jim was always conscious that we would be representing our country when we travelled abroad.

We were able to pay up our holiday costs weekly with our ‘individual bank books’ for the two week camping residential to Brittany. These home – made ‘bank’ books were an incentive for members like myself to see our savings ‘grow’ and to save pocket money for the holiday and do some fundraising too.

We even had the opportunity of doing some basic conversational French that Jim arranged at Telford College! Jim often said to me “if you don’t use it, you lose it!” which still resonates with me to this day! “Je parlez petit Francaise!” (I speak a little French!)

Jim wasn’t scared to give you some responsibility and he reassured you when things went wrong. On holiday to Brittany, we travelled through the night and I helped with driving to Plymouth to catch the ferry to Roscoff.

When we arrived, he let me drive on the wrong side of the road! Don’t worry it was all legal because we were in France!

Jim would go on to let young people represent Fet Lor in Canada, Denmark and we returned to Brittany again in 1996 where I was one of the youth workers.

He used to say ‘you don’t prepare to fail, you fail to prepare’ if anything goes wrong. You always knew that you had made a connection with Jim if you had beaten him at anything (even tiddledywinks!) he would say “you’re just a ‘bandit!

Thanks for all the memories, stories and the opportunities that you gave to so many people, Jim. Your infectious smile and presence will be sorely missed.

GEORGE REAVLEY

May 2020

Obituary: Fet-Lor’s Jim Fisher

I have been asked to do this post by Mary but it is tinged with great sadess and regret. Jim Fisher, ex Fet-Lor Manager, British Table Tennis Coach & Steel Worker has passed away yesterday afternoon aged 86 (writes GEORGE REAVLEY).

Jim had been fighting recurring lung infections and was in hopital several times recently. He was Fet Lor Manager for many years and had a positive influence on thousands of children, young people and adults.

He had a vision for Fet and at one point, the club was open 7 days a week!

It was indeed a vocational job for Jim, who regularly worked longer hours than he should have. He developed Fet Lor into an important safe place for young people to go and enjoy themselves. A safe haven for children to develop.

Jim had a ‘my way or the highway’ approach to getting things done! However, he never believed you couldn’t teach an old dog new tricks! He often said “if you don’t use it, you lose it!” which resonates with me!

Jim will be sorely missed by his adoring wife Mary, who was a vital part of this dynamic duo who made Fet Lor such a successful centre.

Please remember Mary (doll) in your prayers at this trying time. Thanks for all the memories and opportunities that you gave to so many people, Jim.

You will be sorely missed.

George Reavley

City says Thank You!

There’s been a great response from the people of Edinburgh to help the city get through the current coronavirus pandemic.

  • Edinburgh Partnership thanks the public and voluntary organisations for all their help so far pulling the city through this pandemic
  • People asked to ‘Think Local and Act Local’ and be good neighbours, where they can
  • To keep essential services running and look after vulnerable people Council constantly monitoring how it deploys its staff

We’d like to thank everyone who has been in touch with the voluntary and public sector to offer their skills and time. We know that many of you are keen to also ‘do your bit’ to contribute to this effort and we would like to thank those of you who are trying to find ways to help your communities.

Your kindness and generosity in these difficult times are a reflection of all that is best about the city we share and the people who call it home.

We need everyone to look out for each other now more than ever and being a good neighbour and taking care of those who need help in your building, street or immediate community is going to help get us through – Volunteer Edinburgh has advice and information on how you can help.

If you are part of an existing or newly formed community group please contact EVOC who have developed a directory and are connecting the amazing community responses across the city.  EVOC is working hard to connect supply and demand of food at a very local and community level.

EVOC is asking people to complete this basic form or email info@evoc.org.uk for more information. 

Council Leader, Adam McVey, said: “The voluntary sector is doing an amazing job pulling everyone together and making sure people can help out appropriately following government guidelines. If you are able to help others then please ‘Think Local and Act Local’.

“Where you can, offer support to your wider family, your friends and your neighbours to help ensure that they can receive the essential supplies and medicine that they may need.

“Volunteer Edinburgh has a range of information and guidance on how to be a good neighbour safely. At the moment the best thing that most people can do is still to stay at home, limit social contact and follow NHS guidelines. This really is the most important contribution that can be made to the safety and resilience of the city.”

Depute Leader, Cammy Day, said: “To keep essential services running and support those who are vulnerable, we’re constantly monitoring how we deploy our own staff as well. We’re working to identify where our services need help and at the moment we’re relying on our own internal capacity to meet those needs.

“We’ll be monitoring this over the weeks ahead and will work with Volunteer Edinburgh if we think we need the wider community to help us. In the meantime staying safe at home is the best thing people can do. If you can offer more then it really is a matter of thinking local and acting local.

“I want to make sure the local community organisations have a key contact to make sure we have a joined up approach and would urge people to make connect via the EVOC.”

Ella Simpson, Chief Officer of EVOC, said: “I am incredibly proud to be part of the voluntary sector in Edinburgh. They know their communities so well and have been absolutely amazing in their responses to Covid-19.

“As we continue to respond it is vital that we all work together – volunteers, voluntary sector and statutory agencies – to support the most vulnerable people in our communities.”

Paul Wilson, Chief Officer of Volunteer Edinburgh, said: “People’s response to the pandemic has been overwhelming. In every street in Edinburgh people are helping each other, looking out for their neighbours and supporting the vulnerable and those in self isolation.

“Never before has it been more important to give your time, if you are able to, be a good neighbour and look out for each other. More than any other city in Scotland Edinburgh has always been a city of volunteers, of people who helped and I am very proud to live here.

“Please everyone be safe, think and act locally, continue to support your community in the weeks to come and most of all be kind.”

North Edinburgh’s voluntary sector has rallied to the cause with community organisations pulling out all the stops to ensure the area’s most vulnerable residents get food and essential supplies.

Now three weeks into operation there’s a co-ordinated effort to pool community resources and expertise to get supplies to people in Muirhouse,Drylaw Telford, West Pilton, Granton and Royston Wardieburn.

Do you, or someone you know, need food, supplies or other support during this hugely difficult time?

An information sheet with key telephone contact numbers is currently being produced and should be available over the next day or two, but in the meatime  please email me at northedinburghnews@gmail.com and I will pass on your details to the relevant area organisers.

Remember the key advice: STAY HOME UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY

 

 

Fet Lor Youth Club garden tidy this Saturday

We are having a garden tidy this Saturday at FetLor in order to improve the area at the front of the building! All are welcome to join us, hot drinks and snacks provided. 

As well as this, a very kind member of the local community is aiming to raise £2000 by Christmas to create a lovely garden space and the JustGiving page can be found here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/fetlorcommunitygardeningproject

STV’s Real Heroes – Fet-Lor features this Friday

 

Crewe Road South’s Fet-lor Youth Club and Serenity Cafe from Dumbiedykes will feature on STV’s Real Heroes this Friday

Mark Foster (fetlor) with Paul Brannigan

 STV’s brand new series of RBS – Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes kicked off again on Friday. Presented by Carol Smillie and sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland, the STV series celebrates people whose tireless effort, resourcefulness, and kindness has improved local communities across Scotland. 

The nominees were selected by a special jury and will feature in a series of programmes every Friday evening. Across the five episodes, ‘star reporters’ visit each of the nominees to interview them about their work in the community and their thoughts on the nomination for a Real Hero award.

The star reporters this year include The X Factor runner-up Nicholas McDonald, actress Clare Grogan, Taggart star Alex Norton and actor Bill Paterson.

The year’s shortlist includes deserving Scots from Wick to West Lothian, and Skye to South Lanarkshire, recognising the amazing work local people are undertaking in their communities across the country. The categories include Carer of the Year, Young Real Hero of the Year, and a new award for Hero Animal of the Year.

At the end of each programme viewers are invited to vote for the nominees they believe most deserve to win a Scotland’s Real Heroes Award, with the overall winners being celebrated at a glittering televised awards ceremony later in the year.

Elizabeth Partyka, deputy director of channels at STV, said: “The time has come to highlight the outstanding work modestly carried out by the finalists of the series RBS – Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes.  We look forward to celebrating the enormous achievement of all of the nominees.  Each story tells of a remarkable accomplishment and is very moving – all the finalists are considered to be most deserving however it is the STV viewers that decide who will pick up an award.”

Chris Wilson, Royal Bank of Scotland’s Managing Director of Branch and Private Banking in Scotland, said:  “Everyone at Royal Bank of Scotland is looking forward to finding out more about this year’s incredible finalists. We think it’s important to celebrate those people who go that extra mile for their community. Each one of the finalists is deserving of recognition and we are all looking forward to seeing who the public choose.”

For more information, visit www.stv.tv/realheroes or get involved on Twitter #scotlandsrealheroes or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/scotrealheroes

 

RBS FINDING SCOTLAND’S REAL HEROES 2014

 THE FINALISTS 

 

CARER OF THE YEAR           

Nell Graham (Portobello Monday Centre)                   Portobello, Edinburgh

Clare Grogan visits Nell who runs the Portobello Monday Centre, for people who have dementia.  The club offers a break for their carers whilst also providing fun filled activities and a homemade lunch for the members.

Maw’s Mafia (The EK Hangout)                          East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire

Carol Smillie meets this group of four mums who set up The EK Hangout, a club for young adults with learning disabilities, which allows them to set up strong friendships with people their own age and have some fun.  All the ‘Maws’ have sons who attend the club and they care for at home.

Anne Swartz (Scottish Kinship Care Alliance)                       Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire

Ron Donachie visits Anne who is a full time kinship carer for her three grandchildren and is the chairperson of the Scottish Kinship Care Alliance.  Anne works tirelessly to improve the provision for children in Kinship care.

COMMUNITY ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

 Jim McConkey                                                                     Govan, Glasgow

Sanjeev Kohli meets Jim who invents safety gadgets in his garden shed for the pensioners in his community.

Vicki McCarthy (REACH for Autism)                              Greenock, Inverclyde

Paul Brannigan meets Vicki – the mother of an autistic daughter who set up specialist centre and social enterprise cafe for autistic people and their families.

Ross Cowie (Lucky2BHere)                                             Portree, Isle of Skye

Jayd Johnson travels to Skye to meet Ross Cowie who set up ‘Lucky2BHere’ which provides training and defibrillators to public places across Skye and now Scotland.  Ross set up the enterprise after he suffered a cardiac arrest in 2007. 

RBS – COMMUNITY PROJECT OF THE YEAR 

Fet-Lor                                                                                              Pilton, Edinburgh

Paul Brannigan visits the oldest youth club in Scotland (pictured top), which provides constructive after school activities in a safe environment to young people in an under-privileged area of Edinburgh.  The group also puts members through the Duke of Edinburgh Award so they have something positive to put on their CVs when leaving school. 

The Driving Force                                                               Bonnybridge, Falkirk

Alex Norton spends the day with the volunteers of ‘The Driving Force’ who provide free hospital transport to cancer patients and people with other long-term illnesses.   This service gives people with cancer the opportunity to regain a sense of purpose by hiring them as volunteer drivers.

The Serenity Cafe                                                              Holyrood, Edinburgh

Carol Smillie visits this special cafe (pictured below) which is run by people in recovery from addiction.  It is used by people in recovery and open to public customers too.  This safe-haven also provides volunteer opportunities for those in recovery.  The cafe is a focal point for various activity groups such as a running club, guitar group and sewing group.

Carol Smillie at the Serenity Cafe

SPORTING VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR            

Elaine McKenna (Special Olympics Lothian)              Blackburn, West Lothian

Des Clarke meets Elaine who coaches a multi sport group and football team for people with learning disabilities.  From carpet bowls, to new age kurling and boccia – some of her students have gone on to represent team GB at the Special Olympics.

Pat Bannan (Bannan Fitness Club)                   Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire

Stephen Purdon meets Pat – a 66 year old who is passionate about keeping everyone in his community fit and healthy.  From tots to pensioners, everyone is welcome at the Bannan Fitness Club.

Andrew Campbell (Camran Taekwondo)         Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire

Jayd Johnson meets this taekwondo instructor who provides low cost and sometimes free lessons for kids in his area, teaching them the ethos of this popular martial art.  Andrew has even coached a few medal winners over the years! 

HERO ANIMAL OF THE YEAR 

Barra the dog (K9 Search and Recovery Scotland)               Luss, Argyll & Bute

Alex Norton meets Barra the dog – a trained search and recovery dog whose specialist skill is submerged victim recovery.  Barra is trained to find the scent of missing people underwater and has helped bring closure to many families across Scotland.

Sid the horse (Aberdeen RDA)                                       Milltimber, Aberdeen

STV’s Andrea Brymer visits Sid the Horse – a much loved member of the team at ‘Riding for the Disabled Aberdeen’.  Sid’s great temperament means he is the ideal horse for the riders who all have learning and physical disabilities.

Ben the dog (Therapet)                                        Old Meldrum, Aberdeenshire

Ron Donachie meets Ben, a ‘therapet’ who regularly visits the acute stroke ward at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where patients can sit with him, pet him and talk to him.  Offering comfort in stressful times, Ben is loved by the patients and the ward staff. 

COMMUNITY CHAMPION OF THE YEAR        

 Bathgate Street Pastors                                                   Bathgate, West Lothian

Jennifer Reoch spends a busy Saturday night with this group who help keep the people of Bathgate safe on nights out.  Their Saturday night involves handing out flip-flops to girls struggling in heels, providing a listening service to those who’ve had a bit too much to drink, handing out alarms to young women as well as keeping them safe in taxis.  This is all voluntarily.

Jackie McIntosh(MS Therapy Centre)                          Inverness, Highlands

Kelly Cates meets this wonder woman who single-handedly raises £140,000 a year to keep the MS Therapy Centre running.  It’s down to Jackie that this vital service is kept running and was saved from closure. 

Margaret Gibb (West of Scotland Play Scheme)       Bellshill, South Lanarkshire

Clare Grogan meets Margaret who has given over 30 years of her life to the young people of Bellshill with her playgroups and play-schemes.  This group have been used as a model for the 300 plus play-schemes now running across the west of Scotland. 

HERO NEIGHBOUR OF THE YEAR 

Ann Graham                                                                         Riverside, Stirling

Anita Manning meets this hero neighbour who not only organises local flood defences, neighbourhood clean-ups and a beautiful orchard, she also delivers handmade cakes and Sunday lunches to her doting neighbours.

Mo and Roxy Razzaq                                              Blantyre, South Lanarkshire

Carol Smillie visits the owners of the neighbourhood shop who provide deliveries to the elderly and disabled, a ‘losers lotto’ to regular customers.  Mo and Roxy run the local football team, give milk and groceries to the primary school, as well as giving two pence charge for carrier bags to local charities.

Margaret (Garry) Robertson                                                       Wick, Caithness

Kelly Cates visits ‘Garry’ who lives in sheltered housing. Garry arranges activities and days out for others in the home whilst volunteering at the local scouts, running a chess class at the primary school and helping as treasurer at a bell ringing group.  On top of all this Garry assists the local archives, and mentors people with mental health issues.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT OF THE YEAR 

Saltburn Woodland Walk                                                 Invergordon, Highlands

Ron Donachie visits Bob and Sandy.  They are a pair of retired friends who have dedicated years to regenerating an area of Invergordon.   What was formally an aluminium smelter has been transformed into a lovely woodland walk.  All the work was carried out with their bare hands and a small tractor.

Yooz Reuse & Recycling                                       Bellshill, North Lanarkshire

John Amabile visits this social enterprise which provides products from recycled building materials for people to buy at a reduced rate.  All profits go to the Scottish sporting centre of excellence for disabled people.

Killie Can Cycle                                                       Kilmarnock, East Ayshire

Bill Paterson meets the children’s charity that recycles aluminium cans for money.  This allows them to buy parts for fixing up bikes that in turn are sold back to the local community at a very low cost.  

SCOTLAND’S YOUNG REAL HERO OF THE YEAR 

Danii McArthur       (Young Carer)                                             Barrhead, Glasgow

Sharon Rooney meets Danii (18) who cares for her ill mother and two younger sisters whilst also having diabetes herself.  On top of this she highlights the plight of young carers by giving talks and putting on workshops.  Danii is also working towards her dream of becoming a primary teacher by volunteering at her old school.

Mitchell Kinnen (Bright Lights Theatre Group)        Blantyre, South Lanarkshire

Jayd Johnson meets trainee primary teacher Mitchell (18) who set up and runs the theatre group for people of all ages in his area, only charging £1 for the class.  Anyone of any age is welcome at Bright Lights no matter what their level of ability.

The Volunteers of the Glasgow 77th (Disabled) Scout Group             Glasgow

Stephen Purdon meets the volunteers at this very special Scout Group for boys aged 8-25 with physical disabilities and life limiting conditions.  All the volunteers are in their teens or early twenties and pair up one-on-one with a member of the group.

SCOTLAND’S REAL HEROES COURAGE AWARD 

Dean Reilly (Dean Reilly vs MS)                                                Portobello, Edinburgh

Mark Beaumont meets Dean who has multiple sclerosis, but won’t let it limit his life.  He fundraises for the MS Therapy Centre in Leith through a range of tough challenges.  Dean is currently in training for a boxing match with ‘The Celtic Warrior.’

Amanda MacTaggart (Wig Bank Glasgow)  Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire

Jennifer Reoch visits Amanda who has overcome breast cancer and set up the ‘Wig Bank’ in Clydebank to provide a relaxed and comfortable service for female chemotherapy patients who have lost their hair.

Jenny Cook (Wee Jenny Cook)                           East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire

Nicholas McDonald surprises Jenny with a visit to her car boot fundraiser.  Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at four years old, she has since raised over £30,000 for Yorkhill Children’s Charity and the Catherine McEwan foundation.  Jenny is also a Yorkhill buddy, providing support for other sick children.

STV productions logo

STV to celebrate Scotland’s community heroes

STV_Carol Smillie_RBS Finding Scotlands Real Heroes_Nov 2013_smallFet-Lor, Scotland’s oldest youth club, and Leith-based MS Therapy Centre will both feature on the forthcoming series of RBS – Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes, which starts on STV on Friday 15 August.

Presented by Carol Smillie (pictured above) and sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland, the STV series celebrates people whose tireless effort, resourcefulness, and kindness has improved local communities across Scotland.

The nominees were selected by a special jury and will feature in a series of programmes to be aired from 15 August with each episode on every Friday evening thereafter. Across the five episodes, ‘star reporters’ will visit each of the nominees to interview them about their work in the community and their thoughts on the nomination for a Real Hero award. The star reporters this year include The X Factor runner-up Nicholas McDonald, actress Clare Grogan, Taggart star Alex Norton and actor Bill Paterson.

The year’s shortlist includes deserving Scots from Wick to West Lothian, and Skye to South Lanarkshire, recognising the amazing work local people are undertaking in their communities across the country. The categories include Carer of the Year, Young Real Hero of the Year, and a new award for Hero Animal of the Year.

At the end of each programme viewers are invited to vote for the nominees they believe most deserve to win a Scotland’s Real Heroes Award, with the overall winners being celebrated at a glittering televised awards ceremony later in the year.

Elizabeth Partyka, deputy director of channels at STV, said: “The time has come to highlight the outstanding work modestly carried out by the finalists of the series RBS – Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes. We look forward to celebrating the enormous achievement of all of the nominees. Each story tells of a remarkable accomplishment and is very moving – all the finalists are considered to be most deserving however it is the STV viewers that decide who will pick up an award.”

Chris Wilson, Royal Bank of Scotland’s Managing Director of Branch and Private Banking in Scotland, said: “Everyone at Royal Bank of Scotland is looking forward to finding out more about this year’s incredible finalists. We think it’s important to celebrate those people who go that extra mile for their community. Each one of the finalists is deserving of recognition and we are all looking forward to seeing who the public choose.”

FetLorFet-Lor, based on Crewe Road South, is Scotland’s oldest youth club and is a finalist in the RBS – Community Project of the Year category, while MS Therapy Centre champion Dean Reilly features among the finalists for the Scotland’s Real Heroes Courage Award.

Good luck to them both – the series first screens on STV on Friday 15 August at 8pm.