Big Hearts and Care & Repair partnership recognised by an award

The award has been presented by the Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh during Volunteers Week.

Big Hearts is delighted to announce that the team of Care & Repair handyperson volunteers, which includes Big Hearts volunteers, has won an ‘Inspiring Volunteer Award’ from the City of Edinburgh!

Each year during Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June), the City of Edinburgh recognises and celebrates the wonderful contribution made by volunteers across the community.

This year’s award comes to celebrate the successful partnership between Care and Repair Edinburgh and Big Hearts Community Trust, which sees 6 Big Hearts Supporters volunteering to provide practical & technical support to older and disabled people across Edinburgh.

The Big Hearts volunteers who have come through this partnership have been so prolific in their volunteering that they have carried out over 165 referrals for Care and Repair clients since January this year.  That in itself is a record!

Craig Wilson, Big Hearts Interim General Manager said:
“We are delighted to see our Big Hearts Care & Repair volunteers recognised by the City for their fantastic commitment to support vulnerable people across Edinburgh. Since we launched Big Hearts’ volunteering programme, we have been delighted to be working with Care & Repair Edinburgh on a project which we know already benefits people in need. By helping Hearts’ fans to become Care & Repair volunteers, we are increasing the number of individuals and families supported by the charity and it is great to see our first group of volunteers recognised for providing this help.”

Yvonne Georgeson, Volunteer Officer for Care & Repair said:
“We are absolutely delighted to have won an Inspiring Volunteer Award for the third year running.  The fact that it jointly celebrates our successful partnership with Big Hearts makes it extra special.  Our Big Hearts volunteers are so keen to help our clients that we can hardly keep up with getting referrals to them.  Like all our volunteers, they just enjoy helping the less able and elderly feel more comfortable and less isolated in their homes.”

Neil, Big Hearts Care & Repair Volunteer said:
“As a volunteer for Care & Repair Big Hearts this provides an opportunity to put something positive back into the local community.  It is both rewarding and satisfying to know that the work we do in fixing common everyday property problems does help to improve the wellbeing of residents as they go about their daily lives.”