Founder posthumously recognised for excellent achievement award

AN ABERDEENSHIRE volunteer group has been recognised for its dedication and dedication to bettering its native path community at a nationwide award ceremony.

Aboyne Paths and Tracks Group (APTG) have been named as Path Group of the Yr by Scotland’s nationwide Strolling Charity, Paths for All, on the 2023 Volunteer Awards.

The volunteer group was fashioned in 2019 by Jonathan Kitching, who has posthumously obtained the Ian Findlay Excellent Achievement Award for his position in establishing the group.

Jonathan introduced intensive information of the outside within the surrounding space – spearheading the event of a map which detailed the community of interconnecting paths locals and vacationers might entry.

Regardless of founding the group whereas residing with terminal most cancers; Jonathan’s enthusiasm constructed a group of 60-committed locals who’ve helped preserve the paths for all those that use them.

Assembly month-to-month, the APTG maintains paths all through the Aberdeenshire village, offering coaching to volunteers to permit them to make use of strimmers and bush cutters safely to keep up the routes, in addition to first help programs.

Isabel Davies, Secretary of the group stated: “The award is a superb recognition of all the arduous work demonstrated by our volunteers. We’re extraordinarily fortunate to have such a devoted and enthusiastic bunch of volunteers who’ve labored arduous over the previous 4 years to keep up the pathways throughout Aboyne.

“This can be a very thrilling time for our group as now we have two main initiatives underway which is able to see the group making new paths within the space for the primary time which is able to open the entry to folks with mobility challenges, wheelchair customers and prams.

“The group wouldn’t be the place it’s at this time with out Paths for All’s assist, funding and coaching alternatives so I want to thank them for not solely the award but in addition serving to us develop and maintain being a bunch.”

Hosted by the BBC Scotland’s Fiona Stalker, with awards introduced by sponsoring MSP Nicola Sturgeon, the occasion recognised 10 teams and people all through Scotland who’ve gone the additional mile to maintain their communities lively.

Maree Todd, Minister for Social Care, Psychological Wellbeing and Sport “Supporting folks in Scotland to stroll and wheel is a key a part of our imaginative and prescient of a rustic the place extra persons are extra lively, extra usually.

“An enormous variety of extremely motivated and expert persons are serving to us ship this imaginative and prescient, particularly the passionate volunteers who accomplish that a lot to assist others overcome challenges to participation and facilitate actions throughout the nation.

“They are surely inspirational, the popularity from Paths for All in these Awards could be very properly deserved.”

Kevin Lafferty, Chief Government Officer at Paths for All, stated: “Yearly I’m blown away on the variety of unbelievable teams and volunteers on the market decided to make a distinction. The work carried out by volunteers is instantly bettering the nation’s bodily, psychological and social well being, lowering social isolation and loneliness and serving to folks make extra environmentally pleasant life-style selections.

“It’s been implausible internet hosting the awards on the Scottish Parliament once more this 12 months, I at all times take pleasure in getting to socialize with our superb volunteers and listen to first-hand in regards to the invaluable contributions they’ve been making.

“Thanks to everybody for his or her efforts and ongoing dedication.”

Paths for All works with the Scottish Authorities and 30 companions to assist and ship nationwide insurance policies, such because the Nationwide Strolling Technique and different ‘lively journey’ initiative to enhance the psychological, social and bodily well being of the nation.

The charity awards 1000’s of kilos price of grants to worthwhile initiatives that enhance well being, promote strolling and enhance environments for folks to be lively in – making for a happier, more healthy, greener Scotland.

To search out out extra in regards to the Aboyne Paths and Tracks group: http://www.mid-deeside.org.uk/well being/aboyne-paths-tracks-group

A full checklist of Volunteer Award winners 2023 might be discovered on Paths for All’s web site: http://www.pathsforall.org.uk/volunteerawards