Legions of Edinburgh volunteers honoured for covid-19 response

Thousands of Edinburgh volunteers who have given their time to support communities during the COVID-19 pandemic have been honoured by the Lord Provost.

Plaque honouring the citizens of Edinburgh

For the first time, Frank Ross dedicated the Inspiring Volunteer Award to the citizens of Edinburgh, in recognition of those who have stepped up during the crisis.

The award is usually given to an individual. But it was decided that this year in recognition of the people who had gone the extra mile to help others during lockdown and beyond, that “the Citizens of Edinburgh” should receive the Volunteer of the Year award.

Since covid-19 hit in March volunteering in the Capital has grown by more than 200 per cent.

Honour: Frank Ross, Lord Provost

Edinburgh’s Inspiring Volunteer Awards, now in its fourteenth year, pays tribute to organisations and individuals who give their time to charities.

The updated Roll of Honour plaque naming the Citizens of Edinburgh as the joint winners was unveiled during a special virtual meeting between the Lord Provost, Deputy Lord Provost Joan Griffiths and Paul Wilson, Chief Officer of Volunteer Edinburgh as they paid tribute to the volunteering efforts in 2020.

Volunteers for community projects received award certificates earlier in the year.

Lord Provost Ross said: "In my role as Volunteer Champion I have the privilege of meeting many who go out of their way to help others and I’ve been truly humbled this year by how brilliantly our city has come together to respond to the pandemic. Every single person giving their time, skills and commitment to help others is a vital part of Edinburgh’s resilience and a symbol of how we’ll move forward.

“In such difficult times, with so many more people giving their time for others, the Deputy Lord Provost and I, with the assistance of Paul, agreed that we needed to take a different approach. That’s why we’re awarding the Citizens of Edinburgh our Inspiring Volunteers of the Year, to recognise and thank the many thousands who have gone the extra mile to help others during the coronavirus crisis. My sincerest thanks to you all for the help, time, care and consideration which has been so freely given, you have truly done Edinburgh proud.”

Deputy Lord Provost Joan Griffiths said: "The entire city is united in our gratitude to the legions of volunteers who have, and who I hope will continue to, help look after our most vulnerable citizens throughout this pandemic and going forward as we return to normality.”

Paul Wilson, Chief Officer at Volunteer Edinburgh added: “It has been inspiring to see how many people wanted to support their communities. Whether that was informally by being a good neighbour, joining one of the brilliant mutual aid groups that sprung up during lockdown or volunteering more formally, I am confident that the city could not have gotten through the past 10 months without them all. I can’t think of a more fitting Inspiring Volunteer of the Year 2020, than the people of our city who made and continue to make such a huge difference.

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