Scotland the Brave and a Sign of the Times

When you’re neck deep in politics, having a Government Minister visit one of your projects because he thinks it’s an exemplar of what things are all about is as exciting as the sight of a great big pot of honey is to Winnie the Pooh.

This week then, I was cock-a-hoop that Jim Mather, Scottish Government Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism came to see the WRVS Good Neighbours project in Cockenzie, East Lothian and met volunteers Alan MacKay, Graham Schofield, Isobel Murray and Margaret Dickson along with project Manager Tracey Walkingshaw and Service Delivery Manager Stephen McIlroy.

Her stayed for an hour and had a really good chat with them all about the fantastic work they’ve been doing battling treacherous conditions to help older people stay safe and well during the recent whiteout. He also talked about how he saw volunteer effort marrying with business and wider interests to create strong, resourceful communities. Whatever your politics, you can’t fault Mr Mather’s intelligence, energy and commitment.

Mr Mather said, “The Scottish Government very much recognises the important contribution that voluntary action makes at times like these and I’ve been particularly struck by how these volunteers don’t see themselves or their work as something special. They just get on with it. That spirit is admirable and we commend their efforts.”

WRVS is particularly glad we were able to celebrate our volunteers’ achievements for older people without having to lament any tragedies. While the mainstream media seems ghoulishly keen on death and disaster at least on our own Blog we can feature some good news stories! And we’re on YouTube! Hey, how twenty first century are we! Check it out! www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tPFibOquGc

Just so you know, in 2009 WRVS East Lothian Good Neighbours saw 71 volunteers spend 4000 hours intensively assisting 45 older people with almost 1200 different 'tasks' (e.g. shopping, hospital, GPs, social activities) on over 500 separate occasions, involving 1000 individual journeys. That’s some level of intensive support: good on ‘em.

Volunteer Amanda Hall from Kirklees Good Neighbours and the lady she helps in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Joyce Heaton also meant WRVS shone in the Times in England over Christmas, where we were touted as a great solution to older people’s isolation in a piece that covered some very much less upbeat situations. www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/mental_health/article6972032.ece