BBC ALBA OFFERS A HELPING HAND
AN LÁMH A BHEIR : THE HAND THAT GIVES
Monday 12 July at 9.00pm on BBC ALBA
A new documentary on BBC ALBA will take a look at the highly rewarding volunteer sector in Scotland, exploring the range of roles undertaken and the reasons why more than 1.3m Scots volunteer in some way, making an estimated contribution to the economy of £2.2billion.
‘An Lámh a Bheir : The Hand That Gives’ profiles a selection of Scottish volunteers ranging from a variety of backgrounds and ages, as well as hearing from volunteer bodies about how the sector can continue to grow despite challenging times.
Chrissie MacRae, 82, from Stornoway, volunteers at a hospital tea bar and library, an Alzheimer’s day centre and regularly knits for charity.
The determined pensioner started volunteering more than 40 years ago. Chrissie said: “I enjoyed the company, it took me out of the house and it’s a worthwhile cause.”
Chrissie’s volunteer role for Alzheimer Scotland has particular meaning for her, “my husband and son suffered from confusion and I saw how much people like them suffered so that’s why I started helping out. It also gives the carers at home a break.”
It takes all sorts of people to volunteer, from those with lots of time on their hands to others with specialist skills – such as hairdresser Seonag Mackenzie.
Seonag, 34, volunteers once a month as a hairdresser at Am Fasgadh, Skye and Lochalsh Mental Health Association. People with mental health issues, who might feel intimidated in a regular salon, get a ‘costs-only’ hair-do from someone they know.
It also benefits Seonag, from Uig, who maintains her scissor skills whilst achieving great personal satisfaction. Seonag said: “It’s a good feeling to help others and make them feel happy. You then go home feeling happier within yourself because you have helped others.”
However recent changes to legislation surrounding volunteering have affected some. Alex Brett, from Dingwall, has weekly, for the last 13 years, wound the Dingwall Town House clock, one of the few remaining hand wound town clocks in Scotland. Unfortunately the stonemason is now leaving his post because of rigid new health and safety rules.
Alex said: “I’m giving it up reluctantly. Previously I had my own keys and could be flexible. I could wind it on a day that suited me and it would keep going for the week. But due to health and safety I have been told the keys would be taken from me and I’d have to go to the local sports centre, sign a book, be accompanied by a second person, wind the clock and return. It was going to be too time consuming. It was a labour of love, not a chore all these years. I’ll miss it.”
Lucy McTernan, deputy chief executive of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, fears “heavy-handed” laws may discourage many potential volunteers. Lucy said: “My organisation has real concerns about the increase in bureaucracy and regulation around the work that volunteer organisations do in general.”
Although, according to Lucy, overall the picture looks positive for the future of volunteering, “There’s a new sense that people want to give back to their communities and their countries.”
Produced by mactv and directed by David Martin for BBC ALBA, ‘An Lámh a Bheir : The Hand That Gives’, will be broadcast on Monday 12 July at 9pm.