Daena shortlisted for two awards in a week

Daena Robertson was a finalist for both the East Lothian Courier Community Champion Awards and the East Lothian Inspiring Volunteer Awards for her volunteering with Bridges Project.

The 20-year-old was shortlisted in recognition of her outstanding work as a Young Ambassador and Peer Mentor for the charity’s Listening Peers service. She was up for the Community Champion of the Year award at the East Lothian Courier Community Champion Awards and the Young Volunteer of the Year award at the East Lothian Inspiring Volunteer Awards, organised by Volunteer Centre East Lothian.

Daena has risen to become one of Bridges Project’s most dedicated volunteers in record time. She first started engaging with the charity only about a year ago, initially to receive employability support herself. After being supported by both the Way2Work 16+ service and the Young Carers Service, she decided she wanted to give back.

The former Dunbar Grammar School pupil signed up as a Listening Peers Peer Mentor in October 2023. In this role, she uses her own lived experience to mentor other young people with complex challenges.

Daena also soon became a Young Ambassador with the charity. The Young Ambassadors are a group of youth representatives who contribute to Bridges Project’s strategic development and develop and deliver youth-led activities and services.

In the space of just eight months, Daena has taken on a leading role in both capacities. As a result, Listening Peers and Young Ambassadors Coordinator Neil Maclean decided to nominate her for the two awards.

Neil was particularly praising Daena for her Peer Mentor role.

“Daena is always happy to give up as much of her time as possible and would mentor young people 24/7 if she could. Daena goes out of her way to help those around her and has even, on her own initiative, decided to provide peer support to other Mentors to help them feel more comfortable in their role,” he said.

Neil continued:

“It is incredible to see how much she connects with other young people so instantly and to see how much she supports them.”

“Daena is ready to discuss even the most difficult of circumstances – from gender identity to self-harm. Nothing is off the table for her.”

The Listening Peers and Young Ambassadors Coordinator was therefore pleased to see Daena being shortlisted twice.

“It is really nice that someone who gives up so much of their own time is recognised for what she does,” said Neil.

The East Lothian Courier Community Champion Awards took place on 30 May at the Corn Exchange in Haddington, while the East Lothian Inspiring Volunteering Awards was held on 7 June at the Fraser Centre in Tranent. This meant two awards ceremonies in eight days for the young Dunbar resident!

“It was nice to be recognised,” Daena said about the awards ceremonies.

She also recognised it as a massive personal achievement for her to attend.

“Two years ago, I barely left my house so if you had told me then that I would be at two awards ceremonies as a finalist, I wouldn’t have believed it,” said Daena.

Unfortunately, she did not pick up the award on any of the occasions. This did not seem to faze the 20-year-old, however:

“I don’t mind that I didn’t win. The recognition from Bridges Project is the only recognition I need!”