The Shetland Community Spirit Award was established to celebrate and recognise all the amazing volunteering that has happened in Shetland during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond, and those who have given so much to their communities in what has been two very difficult years.

The award is open to everyone across Shetland including individuals, who deserve recognition or even a thank you, new and existing groups and organisations or local shops etc who have provided a brilliant service to those in need during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The nomination-based awards were held in autumn of 2020 and again in 2021.

Over the past two years we have seen volunteering in the Isles at its very best. With people supporting the most vulnerable in our local communities and existing community groups continuing to shine by supporting so many at their time of need. With so many examples of our communities coming together demonstrating fantastic Community Spirit throughout Shetland, we knew we needed to acknowledge these amazing efforts as life slowly returns to the ‘new’ normal.

I think we are very fortunate to live in Shetland which has so many residents with wonderful community spirit.

Award Recipient

2021

Across the isles 31 individuals, 12 local shops and 5 organisations and groups of volunteers received an award in 2021.

List of recipients:

Individuals:

  • Alex Cameron of Trondra for helping out her neighbour and feeding their birds.
    Recipients of the award are celebrated on social media and in local news
  • Alyson Halcrow of Burra for the continued support to clients of the Shetland Bereavement Support Service during Covid-19.
  • Ann Thomson from Open Door Drama for working hard to enable the re-opening of summer activities for children.
  • Cheryl Graham of Scalloway for the continued support to clients of the Shetland Bereavement Support Service during Covid-19.
  • David Grieve of the Shetland Foodbank for continuing to provide an essential service and for having a kind heart for the people in the community.
  • Donald Anderson of Walls for the continued support to clients of the Shetland Bereavement Support Service during Covid-19.
  • Felix Tibbs of Fetlar for selflessly helping out in his community.
  • Gwen Farmer of Burra for the continued support to clients of the Shetland Bereavement Support Service during Covid-19.
  • Gwen Williamson of Walls for the continued support to clients of the Shetland Bereavement Support Service during Covid-19.
  • Jo MacDonald of Lerwick for running a knitting group and providing care and comfort for others in difficult times.
  • Laurence Sutherland of Scalloway for the continued support to clients of the Shetland Bereavement Support Service during Covid-19.
  • Lorraine Sutherland of Voe for being a “life saving” neighbour who offers comfort and help.
  • Lynne Ritchie of Burra for providing outdoor exercise for schoolchildren during Covid-19 .
  • Mandy Stephen of Bressay for her mood-lifting approach when delivering mail.
  • Marie Adamson of Cunningsburgh for the continued support to clients of the Shetland Bereavement Support Service during Covid-19.
  • Marilyn Bain of Sandwick for supporting others by checking in with them through the Royal Voluntary Service.
  • Mark Hunter of Lerwick for making the Shetland Girls Football excel in their work.
  • Margaret Gear for continuing her voluntary work during lockdown and keeping people healthy and connected.
  • Matthew Lawrence of Tingwall for going above and beyond to keep children and adults in Shetland active during and after lockdown.
  • Michael Coutts from Dogs against Drugs for continuing his hard work during the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Peter Coutts of Fetlar for his kindness and passion for his community and helping out throughout the years.
  • Peter Jamieson of Lerwick for his kindness and helping the community in many ways.
  • Petur Petursson for his outstanding work for Shetland Amateur Competitive Swimming Club and for thinking outside the box to provide swimming training while pools were closed.
  • Rebekah MacLeod for her passion and support to pupils and volunteer mentors at the Anderson High School.
  • Rhianne Colvin of Cunningsburgh for going above and beyond for vulnerable people in her community and raising money for charity.
  • Rhonda Richardson of Mossbank for the continued support to clients of the Shetland Bereavement Support Service during Covid-19.
  • Rita Rendall of Scalloway for the continued support to clients of the Shetland Bereavement Support Service during Covid-19.
  • Scott Sandison of Nesting for his long-term commitment to teaching young people to sail on the Swan.
  • Terry McCaffrey from the Cornerstone for raising the “community spirit” in Scalloway.
  • Tracy Jack of Walls for the continued support to clients of the Shetland Bereavement Support Service during Covid-19.
  • Wilma Goodlad of Scalloway for her outstanding work as director of Shetland Samaritans and providing Mental Health training to pupils in Shetland.

Organisations and Volunteering groups:

  • Bressay Development Ltd for enabling the community to come back together by re-opening their café.
  • Dogs against Drugs for continuing and developing their service over the last difficult year to keep the islands safe from drug smuggling.
  • The MCR Pathways Volunteer Mentors at the Anderson High School for supporting the pupils during a difficult time.
  • The volunteers at the Shetland Textile Museum for filling the museum with life and demonstrating Shetland’s textile heritage to visitors.
  • Shetland Samaritans for continuing their valuable service by providing emotional support to those in distress.

Shops:

  • Alison Reid of Bressay for continuing to support the people in her community with deliveries and stocking local products in her shop.
  • Bolts Minimarket in Lerwick for continuing to support their community with home deliveries and a collection service.
  • Fetlar Shop for being a warm and welcoming place within their community.
  • Final Checkout in Unst for looking after their community and providing a great service.
  • H.Henderson’s Shop in Unst for looking after their community and providing a great service.
  • JI Herculson’s Shop in Vidlin and their staff for their hard work and continuing deliveries to vulnerable people.
  • Mary, Haley and the staff at Eid Community Co-op for their brilliant service.
  • Skibhoul Stores in Unst for looking after their community and providing a great service.
  • Skellister Stores in Nesting for their hard work for supporting their community.
  • The staff at Sound Service Station in Lerwick for continuing to support people in their community in a kind and accommodating way.
  • Steven, Kirsten, Margaret and the staff at the Bixter Shop for providing a great service to the community.
  • Venitta and Roger Atkinson of the Walls Shop for their continued work in supporting their community.

It was very comforting to know she was there and available to help. She was a lifesaver.

A comment we received about the person they were nominating

2020

In the first year of the awards a total of 59 recipients comprising of 35 individuals, 12 local shops and 12 organisations and businesses and 1 community received an award.

2020 recipients with their certificates

List of recipients:

  • Akira Foster of Lerwick who went above and beyond to support and help out.
  • Alison Reid of Bressay for working her socks off, going above and beyond to help the elderly and vulnerable people in her community.
  • Andrea Watt of Walls for supporting others in her community.
  • Beverley McIntosh of Vidlin for helping others in her community.
  • Bigton Community for coming together and supporting their community during the COVID-19 lockdown.
  • Brae Foodbank for helping people in the community in their time of need.
  • Bressay Development Ltd for taking the initiative and trying new things to keep the community close and together during Lockdown.
  • Bressay Shop & Alison Reid & Volunteers for their amazing efforts and brilliant service.
  • Busta House Hotel for their go-ahead spirit, amazing work and serving their community.
  • Celia Smith of Lerwick for going above and beyond to ensure Community Spirit was kept alive and well and has done so much to help others in her community.
  • Colin Clark of Gulberwick for his lifeline services to his community.
  • David Grieve and Volunteers of the Shetland Foodbank for an amazing job and being a lifeline to those in need in our community.
  • Denise Johnson and the Lunnasting Hall Committee for putting together information and a welcome support package for every household in Vidlin and ongoing support to the local community.
  • Doug Forrest of Walls for helping in his community.
  • Edwin and Lesley Leslie for delivering medication and helping to support others in their community.
  • Elizabeth Johnson of Uyeasound in Unst for delivering prescriptions on behalf of the community.
  • Elliot Callieu from Vidlin for supporting others in his community.
  • Ewan Anderson and the Dogs Against Drugs team for reaching out to wider community and making a positive difference to morale.
  • Faye Cox of Unst for her energy and enthusiasm in helping to keep Unst healthy and fit and also setting up a local community support page.
  • Frankie Valente, Clerk of Lerwick Community Council for making a huge difference to people in her community through her efforts and also reviving the community council garden awards.
  • Freefield Pharmacy, Lerwick for brilliant service for their community and keeping folk safe.
  • Gaby Giacchino and Renzo Spiteri - The Curious Pilgrims of Bressay for delivering prescriptions and helping to support their community.
  • Geordie Laurenson of Walls for supporting and helping others in his community including delivering messages, cutting grass and supplying fun hand sanitisers to local bairns.
  • Gordon Thomson of Unst who is providing constant support to the community and the Unst charity shop.
  • Gus Dow of Bigton for his services to the community by making baguettes at weekends
  • Helena Spence of Yell for arranging care bags for children in the isle and her kindness
  • Iris Sandison of Walls for helping others in her community distributing vouchers to the over 70s
  • Island Fish Shetland Ltd for brilliant and cheerful service for their community
  • Jackie Townshend of Sandwick for helping others in her community
  • Jane Cluness of Bridge of Walls for supporting others in her community
  • Janet Dunnet of Sandwick for collecting and delivering prescriptions and helping others in her community since the start of lockdown
  • Janet Laing of Walls for supporting others in her community
  • Jim Tait of Walls for leading a sailing series for others in Shetland
  • John Goudie, Toab Shop for their brilliant service during Lockdown
  • John Herculson and staff of John I Herculson's Shop for their helpful and cheerful service and going above and beyond for their community
  • Julia Odie of Voe for supporting others in her community by delivering messages to vulnerable residents
  • Karen Eunson, Staff and Volunteers of Shetland Islands CAB for offering essential help, support and advice to everyone who needs it during challenging times
  • Kerry Geddes of Gulberwick Clerk for Gulberwick, Quarff and Cunningsburgh Community Council for her outstanding efforts to her community
  • Kevin and Hilary Smith of the Walls Shop offering an invaluable service and doing a really super job for their community
  • Mainlands Mini Market for their wonderful help and cheery service to their community
  • Mairi Jamieson of Sandwick for helping others in her community.
  • Margaret Roberts of Northmavine for supporting staff and going above and beyond for those in her community.
  • Mary Grace Anderson of Whalsay for her amazing efforts in making scrubs for NHS Shetland.
  • Paul Fowler of Fetlar for doing anything for anyone whatever the weather.
  • Roma Stevenson of Scalloway for helping others.
  • R.S. Henderson of Cullivoe - Louise and Steven Henderson for their outstanding efforts and service to their community.
  • Sandwick Baking Company for providing a brilliant service and going above and beyond for their community.
  • Sandwick Economic Development Company SCIO (SEDCo) for providing very important services to their community.
  • Scalloway Meat Company for their helpfulness, willingness and a great service to their community.
  • Shetland Scrubs Facebook Page and Organisers for their amazing efforts in organising, making and distributing scrubs throughout Shetland.
  • Shona Wishart of Gulberwick for her lifeline services to her community.
  • Sound Service Station for doing a brilliant job and their sterling service to the community.
  • Staff at Peerie Foxes: Kayleigh Anderson, Kirsty Odie, Madison Gibbs and Anita Keith for amazing care and support to keyworkers children.
  • Support for Self-Isolation Shetland Facebook Page and Organisers for offering vital support and keeping everyone informed helping both those isolating and those who wanted to help others.
  • Susan Couper of Walls for supporting others in her community by delivering prescriptions.
  • Tagon Stores for hard work and dedication to the community and offering a brilliant service.
  • Terry & Grace McCaffrey of Scalloway for their kindness to others in their community.
  • Venitta Atkinson of the Walls Shop for doing a super job and offering a great service.
  • Vivienne Henry of Whalsay for her amazing effort in making scrubs for NHS Shetland.

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