Ross-shire's movers and shakers hailed for helping others live the high life!
Winner of the individual staff award was Kelly Skinner, facility manager at Tain Royal Academy Community Complex and Golspie Swimming Pool.
“Kelly is an outstanding role model for High Life Highland who leads by example, looking for opportunities to add value,” a spokesman for the charity said. “She always strives for excellence and tries to find a solution for customer problems.”
She had been the driving force behind an increase in participation of 16.5 per cent at TRACC since 2013 as well as a growth of 22 per cent in Highlife memberships. “She goes above and beyond, and blazes a trail for other leisure managers to learn from and build on to engage non-traditional participants in leisure,” the spokesman added.
A volunteer with High Life Highland youth services, Adam Cowan, was also recognised for his outstanding contribution.
“Adam’s energy and passion to help others is simply second to none,” the spokesman said. “He doesn’t let anything get him down, and along with the help he provides to youth services staff he supports many different depart-ments in Fortrose Academy and is taking part in the High Life Highland leadership award programme and Saltire Award.
“Adam leads techno classes, introducing older people to new technology in school time but also gives up an hour every week in school holidays to continue providing support.”
He received a Highly Commended Lord Lieutenant’s Award, a national Generations Working Together Award and a High Life Highland adult literacies award.
Movers and Shakers, winners of the team category, were recognised as being an innovative and highly successful project empowering young people across the Highlands to become more engaged in dance as well as gaining leadership qualifications.
“Leadership training and support for young people is a large area of work for High Life Highland’s active schools co-ordinators across the Highlands,” the spokesman said. “It is all about engaging with young people and giving them leadership skills which they can use to lead and inspire other young people.
Movers and Shakers was designed in response to low activity levels amongst teenage girls, who when asked what they would like to do, said dance. Dance terrified many traditional ‘sportys’ so the need to upskill staff at the same time as participants was vital. The geographical spread of schools across Highland also needed the building of a team of young leaders to help get more young people active.
Paying tribute to all the charity’s staff and volunteers, board chairman Donald McLachlan said it had been another incredibly busy year. “There continue to be financial challenges, the same as for everyone who receives funding from the public purse, but I continue to be inspired by the positive attitude of all associated with High Life Highland and the growing contribution we can make to the health and wellbeing of the communities we serve.”
He added: “High Life Highland hugely values the contribution made by its volunteers and is privileged to have over 1300 volunteers, who work tirelessly, week in and week out to assist our staff in delivering a wide range of activities in and around our communities throughout the Highlands. We literally could not deliver the wide range and number of services without their help.”
