Tag: volunteers

Green award for Drylaw gardeners

Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre is being celebrated by national environmental volunteering charity, The Conservation Volunteers. As part of the charity’s regional Green Heroes Awards, Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre is being recognised for the positive environmental impact it has made in Edinburgh. 

Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre was presented with the Community Award and was chosen for their outstanding commitment to volunteering and inspiring positive environmental change in Edinburgh with The Conservation Volunteers.

Elizabeth Graham, Community Engagement Coordinator at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre (picured above, left) said: “Our volunteers put a lot of hard work and enthusiasm into the gardening project so it is great for this to be recognised by TCV. Everyone is welcome to come and help in the garden so we are a diverse group of people and everyone plays their part. Our main focus this year, thanks to funding from Scottish Natural Heritage, has been recording the species we have and building on this to increase the biodiversity of the area.”

Through their involvement in local conservation projects, Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre has created a wildflower meadow, planted a wildlife hedge, worked with two local schools to help them grow their own, and planted two community-managed orchards.

The Conservation Volunteers’ Green Heroes Awards recognise winners from six categories: Partnership, Volunteer of the Year, Project Leader, Community, Green Skills and European awards.

Chris Peach, TCV Scotland who nominated Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre said: “We’re delighted to be acknowledging Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre who has given such an enormous amount of time and energy to conservation in Edinburgh. Without Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre providing their unwavering support and commitment we would not be able to enjoy the green spaces in Edinburgh we love and use every day. We hope that by highlighting the work of Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre, it will inspire others to get involved in protecting the green spaces in Edinburgh and ensure that they remain here for future generations to enjoy.”

For more information about the Conservation Volunteers’ Green Heroes Awards visit: www.tcv.org.uk

PEP volunteers let their hair down

George Reavley, Pilton Equalities Project’s recently appointed Volunteer Coordinator, reports on an event held to thank PEP’s trusty band of volunteers: 

PEP’s annual Volunteers Social Evening took place on Thursday 1 November at Queensberry Bowling Club.  This is one of those occasions where PEP staff organised the hall and buffet arrangements, giving their time freely to show how much they value the services of our excellent volunteers, who contributed an amazing 7,518 hours in the past year.

The evening consisted of a quiz, buffet, raffle and music, aimed to integrate volunteers and introduce them to other PEP volunteers and staff in a social setting.  In total 30 volunteers attended, plus the PEP staff who’s aim was to make the evening as fun as possible. The first task was for the volunteers to choose a team and name them.

Six teams formed; they were: ‘The Smarties’, ‘The PEP Heads’, ‘The Smilers’, ‘The Marshalls’, ‘The Volunteer Vixens (+ 1 fox)’ and last but not least, ‘The Happy Lot’.

The hotly contested quiz consisted of five rounds throughout the evening, but in the end there had to be a winner. In third place were the competitive ‘PEP Heads’ but they were outsmarted by ‘The Smarties’ who came second! The victors were the vivacious Volunteer Vixens (+ 1 smiling fox), (pictured above) who were triumphant after playing their joker card!

All in all, it was an enjoyable evening where volunteers and staff enjoyed some banter and dancing, mixed with a lovely buffet which was enjoyed by all who sampled it.  The evening ended with a raffle with the top prize being a delicious food hamper.

We hope to repeat this with another social activity next year and would like to thank Barrie from ‘Floorplay Events’ and the Queensberry Bowling Club for hosting us once again. A huge ‘thank you’ also to all the PEP staff whose hard work made the evening possible.

If you would like to find out more about our volunteering opportunities and services please contact us on 0131 315 4466 or via the PEP website www.pepequalities@btconnect.com

Service medal for library volunteer

David (with medal!) pictured with Kathy at Muirhouse Library

David Colvin, our Library Link volunteer, has just received a long service medal from the WRVS for working with Muirhouse and Granton Libraries for 20 years.  We are celebrating the anniversary of the Library Link on 4th October.

Kathy Softley, Muirhouse Library

David’s medal

 

 

PIlton walkers step out for better health

Pilton Walking Project has been going for 10 years and has been based at Pilton Community Health Project for the past seven. We felt it was time to celebrate and thank some of our long standing volunteers for their contribution. Les Simpson, Allan Hawke and Fred Downie collectively have volunteered for 21 years!

Les (pictured above, right) started walking in the 1950’s when he did his military service. He completed his mountain leadership in 1975. He loves walking and has inspired his grandsons with his walking zeal, although he says he still has his two great grandsons still to work on! “I have made a lot of friends through the walking project he says, I really enjoy the social side and seeing the change in people as they get used to walking more”. The Pilton Walking Project provides people with a social, fun and safe environment to go out and enjoy the fresh air and exercise.

Allan (above) is a former teacher and school inspector and really enjoys hill walking. He recently climbed all 30 of the Scottish mainland county summits – the highest point in every traditional Scottish county. But he also likes gentler walks and helping others enjoy them too. “Walking is good for physical, mental and social health – a good leg stretch and a good chat make the day. I like introducing folk to new areas of Edinburgh that they might not otherwise get to know from the Cammo Estate to the wonderful Water of Leith”.Fred (above, driving the bus!) started with the walking group when he retired. He said “We only had 5-people on the first walk; that included my wife, the organiser and two others! After a few months more people came along and the walks became a bit of a social occasion. Some of the group went for a wee cuppa after the walk and we really got to know each other. The walks filled up and although a few people came and went, we always had a group whatever the weather!”

“I kept on volunteering because it was clear folk were enjoying themselves, in some cases the walk was the only trip outside they made that week. Ten years has just flown past that just goes to show how much we all enjoyed it”.

A New and Exciting Programme of Walks

PCHP runs local walks on a Monday from the project based at 73 Boswall Parkway. Walkers leave with Christine and Liz at 1.30pm, catch a bus and take a walk in and around Edinburgh, perhaps to the Meadows, Holyrood Park or Forth Quarter Park in Granton. Once a month walks will include a visit to a local place of interest, such as Drylaw House or Blackhall Mosque.

PCHP will be partnering up with Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre for the next few weeks on Fridays at 9am a minibus will leave from the Neighbourhood Centre and take you further afield for example to the Pentland Hills or over to Fife. The trips last around 2-3 hours, back in time for lunch!

If you are interested in coming along to any walk call Clare Symonds on 0131 551 1671.

We also welcome new walk leaders to join our group of volunteers. We offer walk leader and other training and welcome anyone who is interested in encouraging local people to get out and about a little more. If you have good personal and social skills and enjoy walking you are the right person to volunteer for us!

Clare Symonds