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Inspiring Aberdeenshire 2024 winners

View the winners of the Inspiring Aberdeenshire 2024 awards:

Aberdeenshire’s Future award

Remi Salvan (Laurencekirk)

Remi Salvan is a remarkable young man who at 18 years old has shown great leadership in his local community of Mearns, as well for others across Aberdeenshire.

As a student at Mearns Academy, Remi demonstrated a keen interest in community and youth matters and joined Mearns Youth Forum in second year. In this youth-led group, Remi encouraged healthy discussions and debates on a wide range of topics and promoted youth activism. With a strong interest in the environment and sustainability, Remi coordinated and participated in litter picks and highlighted school uniform concerns.

In 2021, Remi was elected as a member of the Scottish Youth Parliament, he is a member of the Laurencekirk Gala committee and the local community council.

The list of his activities and roles is vast and he shows true leadership to other young people around him.

Inspirational Volunteer award

Bill Murray (Balmedie)

Bill has been volunteer chairman of the Balmedie Leisure Centre for 14 years.

He has raised over £1,000,000 in funding for the benefit of the charity and its community projects - the building of the Beachside Coffee Shop, a new inclusive playground, equipment and sessions for children with ASN, classes and events for senior citizens and the more vulnerable – and his current project to improve parking at the football pavilion.  

Bill has led the leisure centre committee through the rough and the smooth all whilst working a full-time job, being a busy dad and grandad. Bill asks for nothing in return and the community of Balmedie would not have such facilities and access to a huge range of activities if it wasn't for his commitment.

Heart of Aberdeenshire Caring award

Amanda Rennie (Stonehaven)

Amanda is the Care Home Manager at Edenholme Care Home in Stonehaven. Amanda shows an exemplary dedication to her service, which goes above and beyond the expectations of her as a care home manager.

Amanda is an inspirational leader for her team - she is usually found out and about in the home, leading by example with the knowledge and skills that she has developed over many years' experience. She knows all the residents very well and embodies a true sense of a person-centred approach. She really wants to ensure that every resident has a good quality of life and can participate in activities that enhance their well-being.

Amanda is a role model for others in the care sector and a valued member of her community.

Cultural award

Birse Community Trust (Deeside)

In their corner of Aberdeenshire, nestled on Deeside, the Birse Community Trust are active in championing local history and heritage.

The trust is active in a number of restoration projects, including the Bucket Mill, and Souters shop and Birse Kirk. Their work opens up fascinating and little-known buildings to the community and encourages a glimpse back in time.

They are working with partners on archaeological survey and historical research and have established the Birse Parish Archive at Finzean Old School. This now safeguards many old photographs, documents, other local history records and a collection of interesting local artefacts.

In their role they are keeping traditions alive, but importantly making sure they are safeguarded for many years to come.

Beautiful Aberdeenshire Environmental award

SHARK Johnshaven Environmental Group (Johnshaven)

SHARK is an environmental group based in Johnshaven. Established in 2006 the volunteer group promote and protect wildlife and habitats in their local area.

They work to support migrating swifts from Africa, installed hedgehog highways and are active in protecting local species.

One of their main areas of work is in encouraging a more sustainable lifestyle for the residents and in particular carry out and promote activities which reduce the village’s contribution to global warming.

This takes the form of green waste composting, beach cleans and village litter picks.

The group recognise the important role that communities can have when they pull together to reduce our collective impact on the planet.

Local Hero Courage award

Suzanne Davies (Newtonhill)

It is people like Suzanne who epitomise this award category – a community champion in the face of adversity.

Ten years ago, she was diagnosed with a high-grade Stage 4 brain tumour. Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy followed. But did Suzanne just sit back and take it easy? This is Inspiring Aberdeenshire, so of course she didn't.

In the words of her oncologists, she is a miracle. It is incredible rare to get so far after her diagnosis. Her courage, determination and strength was always admired by everyone who met her. Over the past ten years Suzanne has gone out of her way to help other people whenever she can, as a survivor and ambassador.

She signed up and volunteered to be part of the Courage on the Catwalk volunteer group and has become a volunteer at the ARI Anchor Unit. In total Suzanne has raised over £100,000 for The Brain Tumour Charity, Brain Tumour Research, CLAN, Friends of Anchor, and the ARI Neuro Ward.

And long may you continue to be a champion, Suzanne.

Community Spirit award

Men United (Peterhead)

Men United is a charity working in Peterhead, surrounding areas and over Aberdeenshire as a whole. They provide a support service for men suffering with their mental health, through peer support, a listening ear, safe spaces and professional support.

To date, they have supported around 850 men, and intervened and saved over 30 people who were considering taking their own lives. The drop-in centre is open five days a week, free for all men to attend. Recently, the group have started a support service for young men aged 16-21, identifying a gap in mental health support for this age group.

Local groups are available at Newmachar and Turriff, and also online. Men United staff visit workplaces and give talks on how to help or spot those who may be struggling.

As a charity they are growing all the time, reaching out to those who have nowhere else to turn. Men United are helping people see that life is worth living, and for that we should all be very grateful.

Inspiring Aberdeenshire Lifetime Achievement award

Jim Stephen (Stonehaven)

“Wee Jim”, as he is affectionately known, is truly an inspiration to so many people in Stonehaven.

A raft of testimonials supported his nomination and the group nominating him were blown away blown away by all the responses. It showed how much he is valued.

Over the years he has held many positions on local groups – including the Men's Shed, the Community Council, the Stonehaven Town Partnership and the Fireballs Association. There are very few events which take place in the town that he is not involved with. Those he does support; it is recognised they wouldn't be as much of a success without him.

He has been nominated because of his generosity of time over many years, and his sheer determination to support Stonehaven and its people, to make their town a better place.

Jim has dedicated himself to making a difference to a community that couldn't be more grateful for his work.