A West Lothian volunteer has been honoured for her outstanding work helping young people in the community.
Jordan Dunlop, who has been volunteering at the West Lothian based, At the Root Arts CIC for over two years, receives a very well-deserved Award from The Centre, Livingston.
The Volunteer Award, which has been running for many years, was designed to reward and recognise the great work by people in the local area who give up their own time to help others and present them with a personalised framed certificate and £100 Gift Card to treat themselves.
Following a heart-felt nomination from her friend Dot, which really stood out for the management team at the shopping centre, Jordan was invited into the shopping centre to meet the team and receive the Award.
At the Root Arts CIC, which was set up by Matthew Swan in 2015 is a creative arts organisation committed to working in the grass roots of communities to provide high-quality, engaging and meaningful weekly workshops, projects and events. The aim is to create spaces for young people to grow in confidence, nurture their talent and to fully be themselves.
These include weekly drama workshops running across West Lothian as well as different projects, including Creative Beans & Sprouts, Eco-Craft Warriors and lots more. For more information, check out the website www.attherootarts.org.
Jordan’s role at the club is to help assist children and young people participating in the activities and events. She has also taken on leadership responsibilities by carrying out the registers and leading games and activities, whilst always providing a high quality of customer service and being very well-known to the parents and children within the groups.
Jordan said: “I am extremely grateful to At the Roots for taking me on. I think that volunteering is a three-way thing. The organisation receives much needed help, the community benefits from this and the volunteer has the opportunity to learn new skills.
“At the Root is a fantastic organisation with values that are very important for the children and also for me. Receiving this Volunteer Award has given me a real boost. Big thank you to The Centre, Livingston.”
Dot said: “Jordan, who has Cerebral Palsy, is unfortunately unable to work, even part time. She neither has the strength or the capacity to work a full day, but as she has never been one to sit back and do nothing, before COVID she started volunteering at a Nursery and then a local play group.
“After the pandemic Jordan started looking for something nearer to home and found At The Root Arts which enabled her to encourage young children to take part in music, dance, drama and art classes, which she’s always loved.
“She really enjoys seeing the children grow in confidence and it’s clear to see she’s also grown in confidence too.
“I am delighted that The Centre, Livingston has recognised her in this way – she is definitely worthy of it.”
Matthew said: “Jordan plays an instrumental role within At the Root Arts. She is a very friendly and familiar face to all of our participants and families, and always provides such excellent support and assistance to everyone who takes part in our programmes and workshops.
“It has been wonderful to see Jordan grow in confidence during her time with us, and develop her leadership skills too. She’s even led her own workshop for children.
“At the Root Arts places value on volunteers – it’s about taking the time to enable them to grow, develop and flourish. Jordan has given so much time to our project, and we’re so glad that she is being recognised by The Centre, Livingston as a volunteer hero!”
Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director at The Centre, Livingston said: “We are delighted to be able to present Jordan with her Volunteer Award certificate and a £100 Gift Card to treat herself.
“It was lovely to welcome her and Dot into the shopping centre and hear first-hand about the organisation, At the Root Arts, and the fantastic work she has been doing with the children who attend the classes, workshops and events – she’s definitely very deserving of the Award.”
If you know anyone, who deserves recognition and a special reward for the great volunteering work they are doing in the community, please send your nominations to [email protected].
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