South Queensferry hero awarded for helping families during pandemic

This month’s Westport Veterinary Clinic Local Hero Award goes to Anne Mitchell from South Queensferry for helping local families struggling during the pandemic.
This month's Westport Veterinary Clinic’s Local Hero Award Winner for South Queensferry is Anne Mitchell.This month's Westport Veterinary Clinic’s Local Hero Award Winner for South Queensferry is Anne Mitchell.
This month's Westport Veterinary Clinic’s Local Hero Award Winner for South Queensferry is Anne Mitchell.

Anne is a member of the Queensferry and District Community Council, and as a retired nurse she is also the convenor of the Health and Wellbeing sub group.

Anne led the group ‘The Ferry Elves’ to support families and individuals struggling through the Covid-19 pandemic. Thanks to her link with other groups in the community and the generosity of locals they managed to support 51 young people in the area.

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When The Ferry Elves were created, in the space of just 24 hours they had a Just Giving page, a dedicated email address and somewhere to store donated items.

Anne said: “We had people donate wrapping paper, make Christmas stockings, donate handmade children's quilts and give us books they had written.

“We do have some items and money left over and will discuss the best way to utilise these within the community.

"We have already taken the extra toiletries and gifts to QCCC to use, as they feel right either as gifts for their clients or for use in the fundraising raffles that they rely on to keep functioning.

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"Any remaining clothes we will discuss with the health visitors, the early years centre and Kids Love Clothes. The latter takes ‘as new’ clothes, washes and irons them, then wraps them as new to give to families.”

Anne was quick to thank others. She said: "I could not have kept on top of this without everyone’s involvement, particularly David Flint, Andy Malarky and Ann-Marie Boyd.

"Thanks to both Morrisons and Matalan in Livingston for giving us a discount on purchases, as well as St Vincent de Paul, who linked with us and supported the families in other ways with fresh food or fuel payments.

“Although I led this, others were an essential part."

As well as all the work Anne has been doing during the Covid pandemic to help residents, she is also a contributor to many others in both her local community and further afield.

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And she is the CPR lead for St John Scotland, and has also just returned to nursing as a vaccinator helping with the Covid vaccine roll-out.

A spokesperson for Westport Vets said: “Anne is a true local hero, giving her time and using her skills in a phenomenal array of ways to help and support people in need.

"An absolutely inspiring individual who truly deserves recognition for her contribution to the local community, as well as her kindness given in volume, to always helping others. Anne we are in awe of all the work you do!

"Westport Vet also add a credit to the people of South Queensferry as a community who have shone so brightly through these tough pandemic times, something which is clear from every hero’s story. A community full of kindness.

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"Westports Vets aim is to recognise and celebrate acts of kindness in our local community and also help to support local businesses in it.

“If you would like to nominate someone for Westport Vet's Local Hero Awards, please email us with details and their act of kindness to: [email protected].”

Each month Westport Vet's Local Hero will receive a certificate of recognition and a treat for themselves at a local business.

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