CVS Inverclyde's Lead Community Link Worker, Valerie Campbell, is celebrating after being shortlisted for the Social Prescribing Manager of the Year Award from the National Association of Link Workers.

Oak Tree Housing Association has been awarded £140,000 from the Scottish Government's Supporting Communities Fund, which will benefit 16 grassroots and community controlled organisations that have been busy coordinating vital responses to the COVID-19 crisis across Inverclyde.

As the anchor organisation in the bid and conduit for funding, Oak Tree joined forces with local third sector interface, CVS Inverclyde, to identify organisations seeking financial support to meet additional running costs and maintain key services. This includes hot meals and lifeline grocery deliveries, crisis energy support and wellbeing checks, temporary staff appointments and volunteer outlays.

As we take the opportunity to say a massive 'thank you' to all our Inverclyde volunteers throughout Volunteers' Week - 1 to 7 June 2020 - CVS Inverclyde Volunteer Development Officer, Catriona MacLeod, provides us with her reflections on the efforts of volunteers over the past few months: