Help at Hand befriending project wins health and wellbeing award

Our Help at Hand befriending project won an ‘outstanding achievement in health and wellbeing’ award at the Stirling Volunteer Awards last night at the Albert Halls.

The awards were co-hosted by Stirlingshire Voluntary Enterprise and Stirling Council and sponsored by NHS Forth Valley. Help at Hand was one of three projects shortlisted for the ‘outstanding achievement in health and wellbeing’ category. The judges looked for projects that successfully reduce social isolation in the community and promote physical and mental wellbeing.

John Ross Brown, Volunteer Co-ordinator for the Help at Hand befrienders project, said:

“I’m delighted that we’ve won the health and wellbeing award at the Stirling Volunteer Awards. Our Help at Hand befriending project was set up to improve the health and wellbeing of older people and help them to feel more connected to their community.

In the Forth Valley region, many older people are living with chronic conditions that can leave them feeling socially isolated, and this isolation makes it even harder for them to manage their health and lead a fulfilling life.

Our volunteers and project staff are committed to supporting older people and enabling them to play a more active and meaningful role in their community, which in turn can lead to improvements in health and wellbeing.”

Duncan Tree, Head of Policy and Performance at Volunteering Matters, said:

“This award demonstrates the important role that volunteers can play in addressing key health goals such as early intervention, reducing health inequalities and promoting social inclusion.

Our Help at Hand befriending project is an excellent example of the voluntary sector supporting people with long-term conditions to live healthier lives and play a more meaningful role in their local community.”