Penicuik YMCA/YWCA are celebrating having received several awards at the national YMCA Scotland Annual Business Meeting in Perth on Saturday 3 October.
The local childcare, youth work and mentoring charity was awarded two honours at the event including a Quality Review Award and the Sir George Williams Medal, which was bestowed on chairman Keith McIntosh.
Following a recent assessment by external assessors, it was found that the Penicuik Y was delivering excellent childcare, youth work and mentoring, in addition to meeting the strategic aims of the YMCA. In recognition of their high quality of services, they won the Quality Review Award.
Commenting on the presentation of the Quality Review Award, the Penicuik Y Centre Manager Claire Gillies said:
This is a fantastic achievement that recognises the great strides that Penicuik YMCA/YWCA has made and is testament to the hard work and dedication of its staff. We have worked hard to ensure that we are always providing the highest quality service to the local community and it is great to see this being recognised at a national level.
Another reason to cheer about was the presentation of the Sir George Williams Medal to Penicuik Y Chairman, Keith McIntosh, for his outstanding contribution to both the national and local YMCA movement. It was presented to Keith in recognition of his service to the YMCA cause for over forty years, as one of the early leaders of the YMCA in Penicuik and also for his work at a national and international level, guiding the YMCA movement through some of its most difficult decisions. The medal is named after the founder of the first YMCA in 1844 and is the highest accolade from the YMCA Scotland.
Chairman, Keith McIntosh, commented on his award saying:
I am absolutely delighted and thrilled to have received such an honour. I am grateful for this recognition of my service. The YMCA is a superb organisation that makes a real impact on the lives of young people throughout the world ever since it was founded back in 1844. This medal means the world to me and I wish to thank all my fellow travellers in the YMCA movement in Penicuik and beyond who have helped to make this possible.
At the meeting, local board member Ross Laird was also appointed as Vice-Chair of YMCA Scotland, ensuring that Penicuik Y continues to be well recognised throughout the organisation.