Eighty folk receive volunteering awards
A TOTAL of 80 people have been recognised in the 2026 Voluntary Action Shetland (VAS) Volunteering Awards.
The awards are nomination-based, with each person put forward receiving a certificate of recognition for their “outstanding efforts in their communities and with various volunteer involving organisations”.
The aim of the awards is to recognise both formal and informal volunteering taking place everyday throughout Shetland.
Voluntary Action Shetland said there were a total of 80 nominees – 52 in the Willin Haands category, for adults aged 26 and over, and 28 for Peerie Trows, which is for children aged under 12.
VAS said nominations have been received from the length and breadth of Shetland and include a range of activities.
Activities include being good neighbours, community volunteers, volunteering with groups, hall committee members and those helping out in heritage.
Kathleen Williamson, who is the volunteer development worker at Voluntary Action Shetland, said: “It is always amazing to read the volunteers stories.
“VAS is proud of how much Shetland’s volunteers contribute to their communities and to Shetland as a whole.”
VAS said it wanted to give a “big thank you” to everyone who nominated someone, and passed on its congratulations to all of the award recipients.
2026 VOLUNTARY ACTION SHETLAND VOLUNTEERING AWARDS – list of recipients
| WILLIN HAANDS AWARD (26+) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Where they volunteer |
| Stewart Abernethy | Shetland Canoe Club |
| Steph Adamson | Shetland Befriending Scheme |
| Maria Anderson | Peerie Makkers |
| Kathleen Anderson | Peerie Makkers |
| Lewis Archer | Open Door Drama |
| Kieran Armstrong | Shetland Befriending Scheme |
| Greet Blom | Shetland Canoe Club / RSPB Shetland |
| John Borrill | Shetland Canoe Club |
| Kevin Briggs | Open Door Drama |
| Carole Davis | RSPB Shetland |
| Bernard Davis | RSPB Shetland |
| Rosie Doull | Shetland Canoe Club |
| Hannah Eunson | Open Door Drama |
| Jason Fenn | Shetland Canoe Club |
| Inga Geddes | Lerwick Amateur Swimming Club |
| Vera Graham | Open Door Drama |
| Fiona Hargreaves | Shetland Canoe Club |
| Katie Hatfield | Ability Shetland |
| Laura Hay | |
| Laurence Hunter | Ability Shetland |
| Kathleen Anne Irvine | Whalsay Riding Club |
| Lou Jackson | Ability Shetland |
| Kim Johnson | |
| Caroline Keith | Peerie Makkers |
| Dave Kok | |
| Janet Laing | Shetland Canoe Club |
| Mandy Laurenson | Shetland Canoe Club |
| Rachel Laurenson | Trondra Hall |
| Hamish Leslie | Shetland Canoe Club |
| Thomas Leslie | Ability Shetland |
| Robert Lowes | Open Door Drama |
| Laura MacDonell | Shetland Canoe Club |
| Bridget Manson | St Paul’s Church, Walls |
| Raymond Manson | Cats Protection |
| Anthony (Tony) Mockford | Shetland Canoe Club |
| Jennifer Nicolson | Trondra Hall |
| Niall O’Rourke | Bridge End Com Hall / Bridge End Outdoor Centre / Burra Community Council / Outpost Shetland / Childrens Football coaching and assisting / Good neighbour |
| Kieran Rozanski | Ability Shetland |
| Alice Sandison | Peerie Makkers |
| Rachel Shucksmith | Shetland Canoe Club |
| Ben Silberberg | Shetland Canoe Club |
| Charli Smith | Ability Shetland |
| Loretta Smith | Open Door Drama |
| Barnum Smith | Open Door Drama |
| Andy Stevenson | RSPB Shetland |
| Alison Stroud | Shetland Canoe Club / Ability Shetland |
| Ash-Lynn Tavener | Shetland Befriending Scheme |
| Linda Thomson | Shetland Junior Netball |
| Hazel Tindall | Peerie Makkers |
| Pamela Turberville | Shetland Canoe Club / RSPB Species on the Edge |
| Bev Womersley | Sandwick Youth and Community Centre |
| PEERIE TROWS AWARD (11 and under) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Where they volunteer |
| Torsten Anderson | Cullivoe School |
| Gary Anderson | Urafirth Primary |
| Alfie Baker | Mid Yell JHS |
| Taran Bird | Urafirth Primary |
| Ellis Bruce | Mid Yell JHS |
| Marcus Ferguson | Cullivoe School |
| Tyler Goodlad | Mid Yell JHS |
| Jessie Goodlad | Mid Yell JHS |
| Ollie Goodlad | Mid Yell JHS |
| Alex Grice | Mid Yell JHS |
| Holly Hamilton | Urafirth Primary |
| Erin Hamilton | Urafirth Primary |
| Leighton Johnson | Mid Yell JHS |
| Elsie Keith | Cullivoe School |
| Ethan Marsh | Mid Yell JHS |
| Amos Nicol | Urafirth Primary |
| Maxie Nicolson | Urafirth Primary |
| Hayden Parker | Urafirth Primary |
| George Poleson | Urafirth Primary |
| Jamie Preston | Mid Yell JHS |
| Mary Smedley | Urafirth Primary |
| Lucy Spence | North Unst Hall |
| Mollie Strachan | Mid Yell JHS |
| Kimberly Tulloch | Urafirth Primary |
| Loki Watkin | Urafirth Primary |
| Kaiden Williamson | Mid Yell JHS |
| Emalee Witt | Cullivoe School |
| Ayda Work | Urafirth Primary |
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