RBS - Finding Scotland's Real Heroes

Nominee: Jessie Douglas from Niddrie 
Jessie Douglas tragically lost her son in a motorbike accident eighteen years ago, leaving behind a two year old son. Jessie realised there was very little (if any) support for young people dealing with grief and the loss of a loved one. Along with the assistance of the local church Jessie started up Scotland’s first dedicated child bereavement charity – Richmond’s Hope which still runs today offering counselling and away days to help young people cope with their bereavement. 

Nominee: John O’Byrne from Glasgow 

John O’Byrne has been volunteering for sick children in Yorkhill Hospital (now The Royal Hospital for Children) for the last nine years. A wheelchair user himself, John spent much of the first 16 years of his life in hospital with Brittle Bones disease and so knows what it is like to be a child living on a hospital ward. Having established the John O’Byrne Foundation he raises money to help buy gifts, days out and ‘fun days’ for long term sick and terminally ill children. 

Nominee: Ashley McIlvenny from Barrhead

Seeing a need for something in the area and inspired by her own parents who looked after adults with learning disabilities Ashley, a young mum of four children, set up Include Me 2 Club. The social club, started in 2011, runs every Tuesday night for young adults with physical or learning disabilities aged 18+. There are more than 75 members who attend to take part in bingo nights, discos, karaoke or quizzes, as well as days out throughout the year. 

Nominee: Suzanne Davies from Newtonhill 

In April 2014 thirty-five year old Suzanne Davies, a mother of two young children, was diagnosed with a Grade 4 brain tumour and given a limited outlook. Suzanne agreed a craniotomy, while remaining fully conscious, which was followed by a challenging course of chemo and radiotherapy. While still having regular checks, Suzanne’s outlook is better. Today Suzanne has decided to dedicate her time to fundraising and raising awareness of brain cancer. In the last year Suzanne has raised over £30k and her work continues. 

Nominee: Paul Surgeon from Kirkintilloch 

Paul was driving to work when he saw a car veering off the road. He stopped and flagged down a passing lorry driver to help, pulling not one, but two of the passengers from the car. With smoke and flames appearing Paul first helped free Caitlin’s trapped legs and carry her free and then ripped out the front seat to pull Gary out of the back seats. Moments later the car was in flames. Caitlin suffered from a broken back, neck, leg and arm, while Gary is now paralysed from the chest down, but both believe Paul’s acts saved their lives.

Nominee: Allison Barr from Mid Calder 

Fifteen year old Jak Trueman passed away earlier this year from a very rare form of cancer. Jak dedicated his final months to raising money for Leukaemia and Lymphoma charities, collecting £60,000 in total. Despite her own loss, his mother is now carrying on her son’s wish to raise enough money for a project he called ‘Jak’s Den’. She is hoping to reach her £100k target by Jak’s birthday this year to build a ‘’safe haven’ for teenage cancer sufferers to hang out and play while undergoing their treatment. 

Nominee: Karen Anderson from Evanton

Karen’s 13 year old son has autism and needs a strict routine to help him cope. With little in the area for children with autism or their parents Karen helped set up a library for autistic children and became ‘The Storyteller’. Autistic children find it hard to maintain focus so Karen’s alter ego dons a silly hat and uses an array of funny voices and faces to keep the children’s concentration. Meanwhile parents can share tips and advice on coping mechanisms. Taking it one step further Karen developed Carers United working with other parents in the area to provide services helpful for autistic children and their parents. 

Nominee: David Forbes from Aberdeen 

David’s mum fell gravely ill twelve years ago when David was just 21 years old. Needing around the clock care David decided to give up his career to become her full time carer. It was a further blow when the day centre they relied on so much closed eight years ago. Not to be defeated David gathered a number of other volunteers and set up Future Choices which now runs ever Tuesday. The club offers pick up for carers and users alike, and offers both a little respite for the carers and an important social event in the week for those who attend. 

Nominee: East Kilbride Dementia Carers Group from East Kilbride 

The charity group provides day care for people with dementia and support for their carers. While they do have a small core team of paid staff they rely heavily on volunteers, including the voluntary management committee who all have first-hand experience of dementia. The ‘home from home’ atmosphere means those who attend often believe they are simply visiting friends for lunch rather than attending day care. While a higher ratio of staff means the care provided can be a more ‘personalised service’ – day trips out or a simple gesture like a hand massage makes all the difference to those in the groups care. 

Nominee: Susan Hunter from Penicuik 

Susan is mother to four children of her own, but has also been fostering for nearly twenty years. After working in a secure unit for teenagers Susan felt she could do more to bring the best out of the young people she worked with, in her own home. Teenagers are the most difficult age group to place when looking for a foster home and placements are sometimes with only a few hours notice. Susan doesn’t keep a tally but estimates she has worked with over 40 teenagers over the years and all despite battling breast cancer three times. 

Nominee: Vicky Walker from Nairn 

Vicky is mum to two children, aged 12 and 5, both with autism. It is a daily struggle caring for their individual needs and living in the Highlands with no immediate family around them. Vicky set up the Nairn Play and Leisure Saturday Club for families who have children with additional needs to socialise and enjoy arts, crafts and games. Not content with stopping there she also set up Crafty Carers for parents to get together during school hours, enjoy some crafts themselves and talk about their experiences. 

Nominee: Joe and Betty Middleton from Bathgate 

Joe and Betty have been Tom’s foster mum and dad for 17 years. Now 20 Tom feels like one of the family and believes he owes everything to them. He is one example of the 185 children Joe and Betty have fostered over the years, alongside raising three of their own children. Now in their 80’s Joe and Betty still provide respite foster placements to children needing a home and are regularly in touch with many of those they have helped looked after over the years. 

Nominee: John O’Hara from Glasgow 

John, aged 52, is works for the Glasgow Housing Association, but he has made the area he works in his own, becoming the neighbour that every one wishes they had! Over the years he has given up weekends to help residents with their gardens, paint fences and pick up groceries when they have been too ill or elderly to manage themselves. He has organised everything from cinema trips for children, Christmas presents for those who would go without and tea dances for the older tenants. He also spends most of his spare time raising funds for charities that are close to the hearts of those in the neighbourhood. 

Nominee: Donna Fitzpatrick from Irivne 

Donna runs the local newsagent in her neighbourhood meaning she has an ear to what people need or want in their area. For the last twenty years she has also voluntarily run the local community centre to help keep underprivileged children in the area off the streets and provide a safe place with activities for the elderly, young mums and teenagers alike. There are Breakfast Clubs, a Ladies Retirement Club, family orientated Bingo Clubs and an Allotment Club so as not leave out those with green fingers but no gardens! 

Nominee: Margaret ‘Mum‘ Miller from Glasgow 

Margaret Miller moved to Springboig when she got married – in 1936. This year she turns 105, making her a Hero Neighbour not just to this generation but to their parents, and in some cases their grandparents! Known locally as ‘Mum Miller’, Margaret likes to be there for any of her neighbours who need an ear, still cooks up a lovely homemade jam for anyone who asks and regularly helps her twelve year old neighbour with her history homework – after all she lived through most if it! Every Monday Margaret is heads out the door to run the local Stroke Club, which was the first of its kind in Scotland when she set it up in 1973.