Jean’s Bothy in Helensburgh named community project of the year at Scotland's Champions awards

Jean’s Bothy, based in East King Street, beat off stiff competition to win the award at a star-studded Scotland’s Champions presentation show in Glasgow.

Staff and 10 Jean’s Bothy members attended the bash at the DoubleTree Hilton on Saturday night to claim their prize, with other winners including Midge Ure, who received a lifetime achievement award.

There was also plenty of recognition for the country’s unsung heroes over the last 18 months as the awards celebrated the achievements of ordinary people alongside some famous faces.

Katrina Sayer, development manager at Enable Scotland, which has delivered the Jean’s Bothy project together with Argyll and Bute health and social care partnership since the hub opened its doors to service users in 2018, told the Advertiser afterwards: “We were quite shocked because the other two organisations in the final were both amazing causes.

“We were all thinking it was going to be one or the other that won.

READ MORE: Mental health group members to take on Helensburgh version of Glasgow Kiltwalk

“It felt really nice to be out at a big event, particularly for our members.

“It was such a good night to do something they’ve never done before. It was a pretty daunting thing for them to do.

“The recognition that we are having a positive impact on people helps raise awareness of mental health support, and of what works and what people need and what we need more of.

“It raises our profile, too. We want to be able to grow and drive this model because it works and we have proof that it works.”

Jean’s Bothy was named community project of the year

The awards’ community project of the year category was sponsored by the National Lottery Community Fund, and their Scotland chair, Kate Still, presented the award to Katrina and the team alongside River City actress Leah MacRae.

Other finalists in the category – Man On Inverclyde, a mental health and wellbeing charity, and CentreStage, an Ayrshire-based arts academy – congratulated the Jean’s Bothy team on their success.

READ MORE: Medical staff in sponsored walk for Helensburgh mental health hub

Katrina added: "There are so many other people involved in our success, from partner agencies and funders, to people who donate to us. It wouldn’t work without all of them.

“We have been quite inventive and innovative in our approach during the pandemic.

“We didn’t just say we couldn’t open or provide a service. We kept engaged with our members, and they are the ones that drive us, over the last 18 months even more so.

“The future is really positive for us. It has, weirdly, not been a negative time during the pandemic; we have managed to create so many other opportunities for people and it has brought our members closer together.

“We were forced into this situation and we realised that we were all going through this, so it was all about supporting each other and that’s what Jean’s Bothy is all about.”

The mental health hub run by Enable Scotland has provided a vital service since it opened three years ago

Jean’s Bothy member, Janet, summed up the occasion: “It was an incredibly emotional moment for all the members and staff of Jean’s Bothy, a massive achievement, and we are delighted.

“We had a fantastic evening, it was an honour to be surrounded by so many inspirational and caring people who dedicate themselves to helping others, and it was a very humbling experience.

“Each one of the winners and nominees is a champion and should be proud of their achievements.”

Fellow member, Colin, added: “As an active member of Jean’s Bothy for the past two-and-a-half years I really didn’t know what to make of it when we were in the final.

“On the day my anxiety was kicking in but I decided I was going no matter what, and what a night!”

For more information on the hub search ‘Jean’s Bothy, Helensburgh’ on Facebook.