‘Making a difference in a quiet way’ – Samaritan Edith Leask recognised in King’s honours
SHETLAND would not run the way it does were it not for all the islanders putting in countless hours of volunteering for the benefit of the community.
That it is how Edith Joyce Leask tried to deflect from her own impressive role in volunteering over a 41-year period.
She has today (Friday) been recognised for her services to mental health and wellbeing by receiving a British Empire Medal (BEM), announced in the King’s birthday honour list.
The 82-year old, from Lerwick, said she was amazed and felt “humbled” that people felt her contribution to the community would “merit such an honour”.
Modest and quietly spoken, Edith said she was surprised to learn that her volunteering was held in such a high esteem.
It was back in 1985 when Edith noticed a poster in a shop window asking for volunteers to help setting up a local branch of the Samaritans.
It was a life-changing moment. She attended a public meeting in March that year, was accepted as volunteer, passed some intensive training to qualify as a listening Samaritan, and has since then made a big difference to many people’s lives.
“We really wanted to make a difference to people who were quietly struggling in their personal lives,” she recalls when speaking to Shetland News.
“Worry, anxiety, mental health issues, bereavement, anything that is making life really difficult for people is what we were prepared to listen to.
“The fact that you would listen to them – quietly, without judgement – seems to be such a relief.”
Volunteers can speak face-to-face to locals who drop in at the charity’s Charlotte Street centre, but more often listening volunteers answer telephone calls, e-mails and text messages.
The main focus is on making sure anyone who needs help can reach Samaritans as quickly and easily as possible.
Edith adds: “The phrase ‘pull yourself together’ really should not be part of the English language, because quite often we face situations in life where trying to pull yourself together does not work.
“You need someone who is prepared to be with you in difficult times, and even by listening and giving time to allow that person to talk about the pain in their life makes a big, big difference.”
She has been a listening volunteer for the Samaritans for almost 40 years but has lately reduced her involvement.
In addition, she has also been on the local committee for many years, including a stint as chair, and has been looking after the charity’s finances for almost two decades.
Edith was also one of the early volunteers of local charity Disability Shetland (now renamed Ability Shetland) which was also founded in the mid-1980s.
Volunteering on Monday nights during swimming and other activities was a commitment spanning 15 years between 1986 and 2001.
“It was so enjoyable,” she recalls, “the quality of life and the fun they had, it was just brilliant.
“We were just the early volunteers, but in recent years Ability Shetland has been worked up into something really worthwhile; it is just amazing.”
She says volunteering is “just something you did, and you never thought about it”.
Of course, she was aware that she was making a difference to many vulnerable people in the community, but so were her colleagues.
“I never thought that my colleagues would think that I have done it well enough to merit being nominated,” Edith says.
“I just wanted to make a difference in a quiet way.”
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its readers to consider paying for membership to get additional perks:
- Removal of third-party ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
