Shortlist revealed for Falkirk Council’s Community Choice Award

But for 2020 they are asking the public to help them select a very special individual or team.

They have introduced a Community Choice Award and at the end of last year asked Falkirk Herald readers to nominate their unsung heroes – those people who go that bit further to help those they serve. Launching the awards Kenneth Lawrie, Falkirk Council chief executive, said: “Each day our employees help to educate children, offer care to the vulnerable, grit our roads and empty bins – while this is their day to day job we want to hear of individuals who really go the extra mile to help residents and recognise their efforts in supporting our communities.”

There were many nominations from across the district and, after careful consideration, a shortlist of four has been selected.

Readers are now being asked to pick the person or team who they think best deserves this inaugural award.

All you have to do is read about the four nominees then make your selection on the printed coupon in our newspaper this week and next.

You can post or hand your coupon in to: The Falkirk Herald, Unit 4A, Gateway Business Park, Beancross Road, Grangemouth, FK3 8WX or put it in our postbox at the Howgate Shopping Centre’s helpdesk.

The closing date for entries is noon on Thursday, March 12.

Good luck to everyone on the shortlist and the award will be presented at a ceremony next month.

Avonbridge and Drumbowie Community Learning Team

Educating and inspiring children in the Braes is the role of everyone in the community learning team.

Working across two small schools encourages creativity and encourages staff to regularly shares skills ensuring all children have access to a wide variety of different experiences.

Headteacher Caroline Sweeney said: “We often come together for ‘Outdoor Learning’ days. The local environment surrounding each school is very different therefore the children have access to both.

Coming together to perform a whole ‘Learning Community’ concert at the end of each year means the children have the opportunity to work with different staff, make new friends, build confidence and also perform to a much larger audience.

“We can also offer a wider range of extra-curricular activities as we have access to expertise of staff and parents from both schools for example gardening club, bikeability and Glee Club.

“Giving the children access to all of these experiences which allows them to learn lifelong skills may be the reason why we were nominated for this award.”

“We all love working in Avonbridge and Drumbowie Learning Community and being recognised for the work we do was a lovely surprise.”

Dorrator Court Extended Care Team

A team of 11 carers, including support workers and casuals, are based at Dorrator Court in Camelon.

They provide a range of duties, including: personal care, dealing with Dementia service users and dealing with end of life situations. The team provide meals from the on-site kitchen with service users attending the dining room for meals at lunch and teatime, as well as serving teas and coffees twice a day.

The carers also organise activities which include daily events, a monthly concert party and weekly bingo. When the weather allows, they take their clients on visits to garden centres.

A spokesperson for the team said: “We feel that we deliver a great service which can prevent service users going into long term care, with the experience and training we have. Staff are dedicated to providing the best service we can.

“Our goal is to make sure everyone is happy.”

The team also show their dedication by staying overnight in the building in adverse weather conditions, such as the Beast from the East two years ago.

“Staff will not leave the building in these situations as there are so many service users who require the assistance getting in and out of bed.”

Ian McKean

Before his retiral last September after 51 years as an electrician with the council, Ian was the local authority’s longest serving employee.

During that time he saw many changes taking place in the council – in his early days tradesmen travelled to jobs on bikes, carrying their toolboxes, as there weren’t very many council vans around.

Ian worked with and trained many apprentices over the years and was fondly known as ‘Jurassic Spark’.

Ian, who lives in the Bantaskine area and is married to May, Ian said: “Being nominated for the Community Choice award has come as a bit of a surprise and a huge thanks to everyone who has nominated me to this stage. It will be the icing on the cake if I win!”

Kirsty Macdonald

A personal carer working in Bo’ness, Kirsty has also shown how her community spirit isn’t only confined to working hours.

Arriving home one afternoon she discovered a man who had apparently wandered off and become lost. Her training alerted her that he was living with dementia and she was able to get him home safely then contact his family to what had happened.

On another occasion she came across a member of the public who had taken unwell in the street and performed CPR until paramedics arrived.

On a daily basis she provides personal care, practical assistance and support to her clients, to enable them to continue to

be as independent as possible and remain in their own homes as long as possible.

Kirsty said: “I love my job! I particularly enjoy getting to know each of my clients, listening to them and helping them maintain their independence; finding out what they can do for themselves and working to support them in activities that they didn’t think they could manage.

“Seeing my clients smile, knowing that me being there has been a good experience for them is the best reward.”

“It is a huge honour to be nominated, particularly as my role as an extended personal care carer is a million miles away from my previous office based role at the council. It’s also testament to how valuable the role is to our clients.”