The Centre, Livingston pays tribute to a very special volunteer, Charlotte Renwick, by presenting her with a Volunteer Award and £100 Gift Card, in recognition of the outstanding work she has been doing to help people in the community for over 15 years. The aim of the Award, which has been running for many years, is to reward and recognise the great work by people in West Lothian who go above and beyond to help others and present them with a personalised framed certificate and Gift Card to treat themselves. Charlotte, who was nominated by her sister Margaret McQueen, has spent years fundraising for various charities, embarking on lots of different activities, including skydiving with her grandson to raise funds for Barnardo’s. Margaret said: “My sister is truly one of a kind. She is consistently going above and beyond to support her local community whilst also helping her family every day. “As soon as I saw that The Centre, Livingston were looking to pay tribute to volunteers in the community I immediately put pen to paper, highlighting why I think she deserved to be recognised and rewarded for the incredible work she does, and was over the moon when I heard she had been picked.” Along with both of her sisters, Margaret launched The Butterfly Charity, which raised funds for a number of charities including Bowel Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Simpsons Special Care Unit, Cahonas Scotland, St Andrew’s Hospice, Bosom Buds of Scotland, Beatson Cancer Centre and CHAS. Charlotte currently volunteers and fundraises at the Whitburn & District Community Development Trust, (CDT). In 2024, she completed all of the Kilt Walks in Scotland, a total of 100 miles, to raise over £1000 for the Trust. The aim of the trust is to assist local residents by providing a variety of services, including a community fridge and signposting people to other helpful organisations and useful information that can enhance their wellbeing and support their needs. This helps to foster connections within the community and ensures that everyone has access to the resources they require to thrive. The community fridge, which is filled with food generously provided by local stores and businesses, serves as a vital resource for the community, ensuring that people from low-income households can get access to nutritious meals. The fridge is also filled with fresh fruit and vegetables from their own community garden. Charlotte’s role is to collect high-quality food from local supermarkets that would otherwise end up in landfills, and stock up the community fridge to share it with people in the community. Additionally, she contributes her time as a board member and is excited to be organising a fundraising ball at the Hilcroft Hotel in Whitburn on October 11 to raise essential funds. The funds will not only support ongoing initiatives like the Community Fridge, garden and support hub, but will also nurture lasting change and enhance the spirit of the community even more. Charlotte said: “I would like to thank Margaret for putting me forward for the award. I accept this honour not just for myself but for all the volunteers in West Lothian who give up their time to help others. “It’s something I’ve always loved doing and will continue to do, alongside raising much-needed funds.” Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director at The Centre, Livingston added: “It was lovely to meet Charlotte recently and present her with a very much deserved Volunteer Award certificate and gift card to treat herself to something nice. “The amount of fundraising she has done and volunteering over the years is inspiring and commendable, especially jumping out of a plane with her grandson – she really is very deserving of this award.” Tickets for the Whitburn and District Community Development Trust Ball, with a live band and two course meal are £45. For purchasing details email info@whitburncdt.org.uk or call 01501 748708. 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 enquiries@thecentrelivingston.com. Don't miss the latest news from the West Lothian Courier. Sign up to our free newsletter here .