Annual awards to recognise those who walk the extra mile

SCOTLAND’S walking charity will soon be hosting its annual Volunteer Awards to honour individuals who go the extra mile for their community – and one man from Perth and Kinross is in with a chance of winning.

Paths for All distributes a number of accolades to exceptional volunteers who have encouraged their local communities to become more active or helped in the transformation of walking spaces.

David McKeggie, 75 from Crieff, volunteers at Crieff Community Trust Path Group and has been put forward by Alan Dorman, Greenspace Ranger at Perth and Kinross Council, for the vital role he has played in improving and maintaining local pathways.

Alan said: “You don’t get many volunteers better than David. He holds himself to such high standards and no job is too difficult.

“He motivates others in the group with his stories and by showing them techniques they can use to make a job easier – his can-do attitude is often the engine that keeps our volunteer work groups moving.

“Most recently, he helped to improve Muthill path, which was simply not passable and required a great deal of attention. David transformed the space and it’s now back in use – the Trust and the community is so grateful.”

The key event in Scotland’s community calendar, which will take place at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh on Thursday 20^th September, will see the country’s amazing volunteers presented with an award, a certificate, £250 towards their project and a £30 gift voucher.

David said: “I just love being outdoors with nature – and seeing how I’m helping to breathe life back into the land and paths in the local area just spurs me on.

“Five years ago, I retired from the Forestry Commission and moved to Crieff.

“I’m really chuffed to be nominated for the award and as a ‘newbie’ up here, I really feel as though I have been accepted.

“We cover Crieff, Comrie and Muthill which form part of Strathearn – so it was also a great way to learn all about the area when I moved.

“When I moved to Crieff, the newly formed path group were looking for volunteers and I hoped that with my forestry background spanning some years, I might be of some use.

“I’ve made great friends with great, like-minded people and together we share the aim of making our beautiful countryside accessible to all.”

Alan added: “I lean on David quite a bit at times, as his wealth of knowledge from his many years working in the Forestry Commission is invaluable to our work.

“To volunteer, the minimum required participation is once a month, but David often joins me much more often on the pathways and acts as a second pair of hands. He really does go above and beyond.”

Award entries for Paths for All’s Volunteer Awards 2018 are submitted in one of six categories: Community Path Volunteer of the Year, Community Path Group of the Year, Health Walk Volunteer of the Year, Health Walk Volunteer Group of the Year, Dementia Friendly Walking Volunteer of the Year and Volunteer Manager of the Year.

Ian Findlay, Chief Officer at Paths for All, said: “The Volunteer Awards are always a very important event in Scotland’s community calendar as they highlight some of our country’s unsung heroes.

“Walking is a fantastic way of improving the nation’s physical, mental and social health, so the work these volunteers are doing really is invaluable to Scotland.

“Our awards ceremony is a time to celebrate the fantastic work that is going on up and down the country.”

Paths for All works with Scottish Government and 30 partners to support and deliver national policies, such as the National Walking Strategy and other ‘active travel’ initiatives.

The charity donates thousands of pounds worth of grants to worthwhile projects that improve health, promote walking and improve environments for people to be active in.