Inspiring Aberdeenshire 2022 winners to be revealed tomorrow
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The Inspiring Aberdeenshire winners for 2022 will be revealed in a virtual ceremony tomorrow (Friday).
Previously postponed due to the national period of mourning, the ceremony can be watched live at 6pm on either the Inspiring Aberdeenshire Facebook page or the Aberdeenshire Council Youtube channel.
There are eight awards up for grabs, and this year's finalists are...
Community Spirit Award
JSK Running Group
JSK Running Group (Jog Scotland Kintore), was set up in 2014 to fill a gap in the Kintore area for a running group which catered to all levels, and judges described their efforts as a truly excellent example of a cause to support others.
For a running group to have 300 members in a community of 4000 speaks volumes about the work they do to engage with the community.
Reverend Dr Kay Gauld
Rev Dr. Kay Gauld led Insch through the Covid pandemic but is recognised also for her role in supporting in response to storms Arwen, Corrie and Malik.
She, along with helpers, supported the community from their base in the church hall, opening daily as a safe and warm place to rest and from where hot food was provided while they arranged and food parcels delivery.
She impressed the judges with her understanding of the needs of a community.
Aberdeenshire Covid Community Testing Team
The Aberdeenshire Covid Community Testing Team came together from all walks of life in response to an ask from the Scottish Government to offer community testing.
Initially the offer was a 12-week testing facility in Peterhead which grew to cover the whole of Aberdeenshire, and in the 14 months the team existed they handed out 200,000 kits, delivered 40,000 kits to community groups, supported 5,500 observed tests and visited 30 towns and villages on a regular basis.
They also responded to calls when the council most needed to support the vulnerable in our communities, such as delivering food during storms Arwen, Malik and Corrie or helping in welfare hubs and carrying out door-knocks in areas of avian flu.
Cultural Award
The Care Group at The Gordon Schools
The Care Group runs at the Gordon Schools in Huntly work with kids who are care experienced, part of the LGBT+ community and those who have experienced trauma in their lives.
It is the impact of meeting up on a regular basis, supported by school and the community that makes this group special as it enables the young people to share their experiences and feelings with other like-minded people in a safe and relaxed atmosphere.
Garioch Theatre Festival
The Garioch Theatre Festival has, for at least 20 years, presented an arts festival in the heart of Aberdeenshire to highlight local talent as well as bringing visiting performers to the area.
As part of the programme to get ready for the festival, young performers are exposed to a year-long programme teaching them about writing, direction, costuming, live music, lighting and staging.
As well as developing new cultural talent, it builds skills and confidence and understanding that the young people can take away for the rest of their lives.
They are keeping local culture alive and drawing in all ages to participate.
Benholm and Johnshaven Heritage Society
The Heritage Hub in Johnshaven operates as a museum in the summer as well as a community hub and art gallery throughout the year.
Staffed by a band of volunteers, they have built a strong reputation to promote the coastal strip and promote the little-known facts and heritage of Johnshaven.
The group aims to boost tourism and improve the economic and cultural outlook for the whole of The Mearns, and is an inspiration in keeping the history of the village alive for generations to come.
Gordon Hay
Gordon was described by the judges as a “loyal custodian of the Doric language”.
He has become well known for his work promoting the Doric language through songs and stories, and among his best-known work is the publication of the New Testament in Doric in 2012.
Beautiful Aberdeenshire Environmental award
Alan Cameron
Alan was a long-standing and dedicated member of the Ellon Castle Garden committee, whose involvement with that and other active groups resulted in him leading the Trust set up to support the community garden.
Founded a number of years ago to use profit gain from a housing development to bring the gardens back to life, Alan spent considerable time and effort raising awareness and helping to raise funds.
The result of his dedication is a true community garden - one loved and enjoyed by so many of all ages.
Sadly Alan passed away earlier this year and his loss is felt greatly within the community.
Stonehaven Horizon Project
The Stonehaven Horizon Project is a band of volunteers who look after numerous hanging baskets and planters around the town of Stonehaven throughout the year.
They work closely with the Council’s Landscape Services team on community projects, and their aim is to promote civic pride in the town and to make Stonehaven a better place in which to live.
In 2021 they decided to enter the Beautiful Scotland competition, and the result was months of work to upgrade parts of the community, get groups on board and put in hours of workbut they were awarded a Silver Gilt Award in the coastal town category.
Caspar Lampkin
During the last four years, Caspar Lampkin has been one of the main driving forces behind the restoration of the Mearns Coastal Heritage Trail from Johnshaven to St Cyrus.
This Core Coastal Path had become impassable in many places, and he has worked tirelessly to resurface sections which had slipped, to install drains, create natural ponds and plant willow to prevent field water causing further land slips as well as interventions to prevent sea erosion from causing further damage.
He is locally recognised as being the reason that a once nearly lost local resource is now in safe hands.
Future Award
Steven Strachan – Inverurie Academy
During his time at Inverurie Academy Steven has been a pioneering volunteer within the Leaders In Sport programme.
He has always been first to come forward for any additional volunteering and that has seen him assisting with Primary 1 and Primary 7 Transition programmes, helping out at his old Primary School at Kellands with after-school football and basketball, marshalling at Run Garioch and the Active Schools Running Series and, despite the disrupted school years since 2020, he has also held one of the Sportscotland Young Ambassador roles at Inverurie Academy.
His volunteering has also extended into the local community as he progressed from participant to volunteer helper at Colony Park Football Club.
Lucy Paterson and Olivia Gemmell – Hillside School
Lucy and Olivia are two P7 pupils at Hillside School in Portlethen.
Both girls volunteer part of their lunch time each day to support P3 and P4 pupils while they are having their lunch.
They spread positivity and joy through the effort they put into engaging with every single one of the children.
Ruby Peace – Inverurie Academy
Ruby Peace is described in her nomination as an “outstanding member of the Inverurie Academy community”.
She regularly helps out with many of the school’s more vulnerable students through the ASL department, and in her final year Ruby was appointed to the prestigious role of one of the School Captains.
She is a very active member of the Charities Committee, recently working to establish a Come As You Please Day to raise funds for Ukraine.
Heart Award
Caroline Brunton
Caroline is A teacher at Kellands School, Caroline's nomination couldn’t sing her praises more loudly as it reads: “Incomparable, inspiring, selfless, caring and loving.
"She is a complete one off, a maverick, they broke the mould when they made her, a pioneer, a guru in all things nurture and counselling, but most of all someone with the biggest heart I have had the pleasure to work with.”
In addition to her work as a teacher, Caroline works as a team leader and trainer at Childline and also serves on the Children’s Panel - all the while undertaking a counselling degree.
She has made a difference to so many lives, often dealing with life-threatening, suicide, mental illness, poverty, loneliness and desperation issues.
Friends of Al-Amal Project
Formed by volunteers in late 2019, the Friends exist to support resettled refugee families across Aberdeenshire.
They started by offering 1:1 support and informal language practice, however volunteers now deliver a wide range of community projects, events and support packages.
Despite all being volunteers, they never fail to support families and the Refugee Resettlement Team, and they are such a crucial part of the overall success of refugee resettlement in Aberdeenshire.
Helen Cox
For almost 50 years Helen Cox has provided short breaks and long-term care to looked-after children for Aberdeenshire Council, described by the judges as “a genuine local champion” working and supporting vulnerable children.
She came into her role almost by accident when her daughter had made friends with a girl at school who was living in a children’s home in Rhynie and asked if she could come to stay a weekend.
This young girl then ended up coming and living with them for two years.
She and her late husband progressed into short breaks and emergency placements to make sure that the kids were getting to do things they might not normally do and were enjoying themselves in a safe environment.
Local Hero Award
Jenny Radford
An Ellon Primary School teacher, Jenny is described as the glue that has held together a community when it is facing its toughest times.
She is literally changing lives across the Ellon area through her work to support families on the brink to enjoy being together again, helping children unable to access education return to school full time and using time outside to help young people express their emotions while navigating challenging situations.
Lorraine Coleman
Recently retired, Lorraine Coleman was the longest serving teacher at Mintlaw Academy and became a champion of cancer charities following her own battle with cancer in 2008.
From school events to being chairperson for Relay for Life in Peterhead since 2012, addressing all year groups at Mintlaw Academy assemblies, in person and virtually, and sharing the message about her experience and those who have not been so lucky.
Despite retiring, she is showing no signs of slowing down.
Martin Anderson
Martin showed his heroism during the storms of late 2021 and early 2022 and is described as “a highly commendable example of how one person can make such a difference to others”.
When the things got bad he was out, in often incredibly difficult conditions, to rural locations to take generators to those who were cut off without power for extended periods.
His main focus was helping young families and vulnerable people, and there is no doubt that his community-mindedness saved lives.
Inspirational Volunteer Award
Willie Linklater
Willie Linklater suffered a stroke in 2019, but once he recovered he put his experience and enthusiasm into helping other people and raising funds and awareness for stroke survivors.
He set about cycling the length of John O’Groats to Land’s End, but in and around Inverurie, raising over £2000.
He was key in the creation of a volunteer-led, non-profit group called Oot N Aboot, with the main focus of facilitating social gatherings with particular attention to the needs of those who have mobility difficulties.
Alongside this he is a volunteer for the Bailies of Bennachie and also volunteers for Inverurie Events.
Lesley Paul
Lesley Paul works tirelessly for people in the Luthermuir community, and is heavily involved in the community larder, collecting supplies, running the larder and delivering produce to local elderly residents.
She shops for those who are unable to do so themselves often buying shopping at her own expense, and transports people to hospital and doctors’ appointments.
She single-handedly plants, maintains and waters all the plant displays in the village and is a member of the village improvement group.
Lesley will go out of her way to help and is an inspirational person who works tirelessly to make the local and wider community a better place for everyone to enjoy.
Morag Lightning
Morag suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, diagnosed following her deployment to the Iraq war in 2003 and two subsequent tours of duty in Afghanistan.
Since being discharged she has immersed herself into the Turriff community, striving to make it a better place for all.
She has set up various committees and groups, is a founding member of Friends Of Turriff Cemetery and a member of the local Crafty Wednesday group.
She has been fundraising for a memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum for the Women’s Royal Air Force, is also a local ambassador for Op Spartan (a worldwide group of veterans), is part of the Haughs Redevelopment group, the Turriff Sports Hub, the Jubilee Yarnbombers and, until recently, Turriff and District Community Council.
Grampian Opportunities
Grampian Opportunities (GO) is a not-for-profit organisation based in Inverurie which works to develop opportunities for people with disabilities, mental health challenges, sensory impairment, autism or long-term conditions to be actively involved in their community.
GO’s strength is in collective action, providing opportunities for people of all abilities to collaborate, learn and volunteer together in meaningful activities and projects that really do make a difference in addressing some of our society’s most challenging problems.
The pandemic brought significant additional challenges but one which the group met admirably and this allowed them to keep working to support their network.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Steven Knox
Steven Knox was described in his nomination as an “exceptional teacher, colleague and friend”.
He has gone above and beyond throughout his career and supported hundreds, if not thousands, of people ranging from the pupils in his care during the school day, the staff around the school in times of difficulty and his friends when they need him.
He has provided a safe space in his classroom to support pupils who have had issues with mental health or relationships and is always a trusted voice of support and he went over and above to keep staff morale up during the pandemic and beyond, not only supporting his department but also the wider school.
Rosie Nicol
Rosie runs Belhelvie Community Trust, and under this umbrella she runs Balmedie Sensory Garden, the Sand Bothy at Balmedie Beach, litter-picking groups for Balmedie and Potterton and the Beach Wheelchairs.
Her interests are always focused on how she can improve the community, and she is a community stalwart devoting all her time to this area.
Marion Bruce
Marion has served the Potterton community for 65 years since she took over the local shop from her father and, over the years, has continued to serve the community in the shop by keeping it open 7 days a week.
She and her family took the initiative during the pandemic to find ways of keeping stocked with essentials, undertook a grocery and medicine delivery service and kept the paper deliveries going.
Marion and her family worked in excess of 100 hours a week to serve the Potterton community.
Her daughter said: “Her role in our community hasn’t been just a job to her, but a vocation.”
