Willie Rennie MP launches search for Fife heroes

Fife's newest MP is urging West Fifers to nominate local heroes for recognition through the Nationwide Awards for Voluntary Endeavour. The awards are designed to reward and recognise the local heroes whose voluntary work or community activity has made a real difference to peoples' lives.

Dunfermline and West Fife MP, Willie Rennie said:

"Volunteers do so much - often with little or no reward. They make a real difference to peoples' lives. Those who give up their free time to help others rarely ask for recognition but I believe they deserve it.

"Last year no-one from Fife won an award but I want that to change this year. I want everyone in Fife to think of someone they can nominate. They can write to me at the House of Commons or nominate them directly.

"This is your chance to nominate someone who you believe deserves an award and make sure their work is recognised. The closing date for nominations is 28th April 2006."

Anybody wishing to nominate someone who deserves an award can pick up a leaflet containing a nomination form from the Dunfermline Branch of the Nationwide Building Society at 102 High Street, Dunfermline

ENDS

For more information please call Dave Hall on 0207 219 1678 or 0781 4934438.

Notes:

Two winners will be selected from nominations in each of the four categories for each of the 7 English regions, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each Region shall select a UK Finalist for each of the four categories who will go forward for the final judging.

There are four categories:

Young person under 18 years of age, Individuals

Young people under 18 years of age, Groups

Adult Individuals

Adult Groups

The prizes for the winners are as follows:

Regional Winners receive a plaque plus £50 of dining out vouchers for individuals or £100 of vouchers for group winners.

National Finalists receive a glass trophy and £250 in the winner's choice of leisure, electronic or fashion/household retail vouchers plus a cheque for £500 for the charity or cause of the winner's choice.

National winners receive a trophy and £500 in the winner's choice of leisure, electronic or fashion/household retail vouchers plus a cheque for £2,500 for the charity or cause of the winner's choice.

Scotland - winners 2005

Young People Under 18-Individual

Derek Blyth, Bonnyrigg

Derek spends over 10 hours a week coaching young people at local soccer centres in Midlothian. Due to his hard work and enthusiasm the amount of children attending the soccer schools increased so significantly that another centre had to be opened. During the holidays in 2004 Derek worked as a full time volunteer at a number of holiday courses and the Scottish Football Association awarded him Coach of the Year which was presented to Derek by Scotland legend Kenny Dalglish.

Danielle Fletcher Herd, Aberdeen

Danielle spends her time raising funds for charity, organising an after school club for children needing support and acts as a mentor and role model to those in the school drama group. In January Danielle organised a concert in aid of the Tsunami victims raising £2,500.

Young People Under 18-Group

Up2U Peer Education Group, Peebles

This group of volunteers from Peebles High School deliver a drug and alcohol programme to all Primary Schools in Tweeddale. They also organise discos, band nights and 'Safe T in the Park' which is an annual event aimed at providing advice to 5 th year pupils. 300 pupils attend this event and Up2U members provide sexual health, drugs and alcohol advice.

At Your Side, Paisley

This group of senior pupils have formed an anti-bullying group to support other students during and after the school day. The 30 volunteers offer a lunch time drop in facility with various activity sessions and a mentoring and buddying system for more vulnerable pupils. The idea of At Your Side came from some of the young volunteers themselves experiencing bullying at a younger age and they were keen to help others who may be going through something similar.

Adult-Individual

Liam Felvus, Wishaw

Liam has been a volunteer for the last 7 years and works between 15 and 20 hours per week at the Pavilion and the Greenmoss facility, which are both environmental projects. He does all the dirty, unglamorous work no one else wants to do, helping to recycle over 5000 tin cans, several skip loads of bottles, wood and newspapers every year. Due to a medical condition, Liam was bullied as a child and as a result he received no education from the age of 12. Liam has totally turned his life around and attended adult literacy, first aid and youth worker courses.

Sheila Hands, Dundee

Sheila volunteers for 18 and Under, a group which supports abused children. Despite being blind, she has worked almost full time for the last 4 years, running workshops, setting up a parent support group, recruiting and training other volunteers and adapting training materials for blind children into Braille.

Adult-Group

Newmilns Snow & Sports Complex, East Ayrshire

This group of volunteers saved a ski slope from closure by their local council. They formed a company limited by guarantee and as trustees, they receive no payment. The local junior ski club with over 40 members would have no where to meet if the trustees had not saved the slope. The group are hoping to develop the site to include other related sports not currently on offer in the local area such as mountain boarding, climbing, archery and orienteering.

Volunteer Mediators for Edinburgh Mediation, Edinburgh

This group of mediators help their neighbours resolve disputes. Each volunteer spends a minimum of 4 hours per week helping members of their community with their neighbour disputes and issues. They offer an extremely valuable service to their community as there is no other mediation service available in Edinburgh and it is totally free and on offer to everyone.