Michaella Henderson
Mentoring Young Talent Programme Project Officer, Moray Council Employability Team, writes:
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"To celebrate Volunteers Week for the first week of June our volunteers have created a mentor video.
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These volunteers are making a big difference to young people in Moray. Thank you so much for what you do!"
"We would like to thank all Buckies Roots volunteers for their dedication to Buckie’s Community. From planting flowers, litter picking, community crafting, helping other groups, our team are the True Heart Of The Community."
Meg Jamieson, Buckies Roots
Moray Pride sends this thank you to fellow volunteer and Pride chair, John Summers-Campbell, who now calls Moray home:
"John is an award-winning educator and human rights campaigner. He is passionate about creating safe spaces for the LGBTQ community. Visibility is vital to creating these safe spaces and he’s proud to be volunteering his time in helping make the first Pride in Moray a reality.
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For John, Pride is about remembering where we have been as an LGBTQ community, where we are and where we need to be. Being an educator he is aware of how difficult it is for young people in rural areas to be their authentic selves, to come out and feel part of a vibrant community."
Viktoria Erikson would like to thank trustee and volunteer, June Donald, of Dufftown and District Community Association.
"Helping those in need while reducing food waste, June takes time every day to make sure our community larder is going.
Without her efforts, we would lose out on a very much needed and valued service in Dufftown. Our community is lucky to have such a friendly, bubbly and resourceful person on board.
THANK YOU JUNE!"
Earthtime would like to thank Terry, who volunteers at the Duffus nursery site.
Terry says, "I started volunteer work at Earthtime just as lockdown started two years ago and have loved every minute, even on days where it is freezing outside and the mud is ankle deep!
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I had moved to Scotland on retirement and was struggling to find something to make me feel part of a community, somewhere I could help. I contacted Earthtime and they said yes please and the rest is history.
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The staff there are amazing and have made me so welcome, I really feel part of a team. It is great when I come in on a Wednesday morning to be greeted by the children, telling me about things they have done during the week and showing me thing they have found or helped make etc.
l love my Wednesday mornings and how Earthtime makes me feel."
Anna volunteers not only in Earthtime's forest school nursery in Duffus, but also leads their Waddle Toddle session in Hopeman every Tuesday in the Community Garden.
Here’s what Anna said about volunteering:
"Having been a stay-at-home mum for eight years, volunteering has given me a purpose outside of the home without needing to spend time away from my youngest child.
It’s nice to feel useful and to give back to a service I had previously utilised with my older children.
I love seeing the reaction when a child really enjoys a particular story or activity. Lots of fun to be had outdoors!"
"Tony Hartley has been a Champion with the Moray Wellbeing Hub since 2019. We would like to appreciate his dedication to the social movement and as a volunteer part of the Delivery Team in the Forres locality over the last few years.
He has engaged with all of the Wellness College self management courses and has built up a great toolkit of skills to support himself and other champions in Moray, being part of a team hosting Champion gatherings online during Covid and supporting the monthly Bee Well Champion drop in cafes over the last year as well as a peer community connector.
If you see him out and about know that he’s on the case supporting the growth of Mental Wealth around Moray!"
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From Johanna Quinney, volunteer coordinator, and everyone at the Moray Wellbeing Hub.
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"Moray Duke of Edinburgh Award Committee would like to express their heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who support the Award participants throughout their journey through the different sections of the Award.
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"Without your help and dedication completing their Award would be impossible.
Thank you once again."
Derek Thomson
Chair of the Moray Duke of Edinburgh Award Committee
"Fochabers Heritage is run totally by volunteers.
They are team players and bring a wide array of talents.
They are full of enthusiasm and innovative ideas.
They are patient with young visitors and compassionate with the vulnerable.
I am proud to lead and be part of this hard working team."
Kay Griffin, Fochabers Heritage
From a member of the public:
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To every volunteer with the Cullen Volunteer Group, thank you.
We don't live in Cullen, but our family has enjoyed walking the Salmon Bothy Path so much.
Each piece of sea glass picked up along the way reminds us of how special this place is and how special you all are for making it possible.
This young volunteer, Kenzie Stephen, has reached his 500 volunteering hours Saltire Award with Elgin Youth Cafe.
Kenzie would like to say a huge thanks to Elgin Youth Cafe staff for giving him the opportunity to volunteer with them.
And we want to say a huge thanks to Kenzie and Congratulations!
And thank you to Elgin Youth Cafe for supporting volunteering for young people!
“A huge heartfelt thank you, and Happy Volunteers’ Week, to our incredible Who Cares? Scotland Moray volunteers Lucy, Jim & Curtis.
We are so grateful for all the amazing things you do at your groups and events, bringing fun, laughter and compassion to all of the young people you work with.
We are forever in awe of your drive and determination to ensure that outcomes for Care Experienced people are improved, and of your passion to achieve our shared vision of a lifetime of equality, respect and love.”
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Heather Donaldson, Who Cares? Scotland
"A huge thank you to our wonderful volunteers who have truly stepped up to help vulnerable clients. Supporting clients to remain independent in their own home, providing transport to get to essential appointments and assisting with shopping are just a few examples of the support our volunteers provide.
Always with a friendly smile and a chance to chat our volunteers can brighten up someone’s day. This past year our volunteers have supported NHS Grampian with a transport discharge service to help get patients safely home. We look forward to continuing to work with our family of dedicated volunteers.
Happy Volunteers Week!"
Karen Fong, Royal Voluntary Service, Grampian
From Volunteer Peter White:
"Here is the photo of myself, David Slessor and Jenny Adams as Health walk Leaders for Hopeman Health walking Group. I’d just like to thank David and Jenny for giving up their free time to do the walks on a Thursday morning for the community of Hopeman."
And we would like to thank you, Peter, for your volunteering!
From Martin Boon, Marine Mammal Medic, Trustee with the British Divers Marine Life Rescue and Coordinator of Large Whale Disentanglement Team and Volunteer with Moray Seal Rescue, who sends his thanks and appreciation to all the volunteers involved with this incredible work.
"I have several people in Moray who help out not just with large whale disentanglement team but also with the rescue of seals and other marine life."
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Martin also has a small unit in his garden where volunteers stabilise seal pups prior to going on to rehabilitation centres. THANK YOU! And thank you Martin for sharing this volunteering that helps Moray’s incredible marine life!
Volunteer Elizabeth Brown writes:
"We have been volunteering as a family at Touchdown Memorial Home for Horses and it has been so wonderful being able to get outside and reconnect with the horses whilst helping out in anyway we can."
"In Moray one of our volunteers is retiring from her role(s) and we are only just working out how invaluable she truly has been to the Branch. Nominally she was Enquiries Volunteer, Cat Match Volunteer, Lost & Found Volunteer, Fundraising Volunteer and member of the board but she has been so much more than those words alone!
Step up Elspeth and please take a bow…
You have been amazing: incredibly kind, generous with your time, diligent, caring about both cats & owners.
You have gone above and beyond the role(s) you volunteered in, always the 1st to offer to drive a cat somewhere, to help with fundraising, to comfort owners when something goes wrong.
You have helped hundreds of cats into loving new homes, remembered & reunited lost moggies, and helped all the other volunteers & teams like TNR & Fosterers to do their best in their roles.
Invaluable doesn’t even begin to cover it! We will miss you such a lot…"
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Amanda Lindsay, Coordinator, Moray Branch Cats Protection
"Leah Rossvoll has been a valued Champion with the Moray Wellbeing Hub for years. We would like to appreciate her dedication to the social movement and as a volunteer part of the Delivery Team in the Buckie/East locality.
She has been very engaged with the Wellness College self-management courses and has built up a great toolkit of skills to support herself and other champions in Moray.
Leah is always keen to use her sparkling personality to get in touch with Champions and other community members. With her wealth of knowledge about the East communities she buzzes with energy to make meaningful connections and encourage partnerships to support the growth of Mental Wealth around Moray!”
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Tini van Luijtelaar
Champion, Volunteer Coordinator & Peer Facilitator, Moray Wellbeing Hub CIC
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Read this fab blog from TSI's Susan Davies on volunteering at Reboot in Forres. ​
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