Paisley’s national charity has received a top award for its volunteering scheme.

The Scottish Huntington’s Association (SHA) picked up the Volunteer Friendly Award, a national quality mark for excellence in how an organisation inspires and manages its volunteers.

SHA’s ‘Wellbeing Volunteer Programme’ is designed to enhance an individual’s career prospects or other personal development goals as well as fulfilling a role the charity needs support with.

SHA currently provides specialised support to around 600 families living with the condition throughout Scotland and offers a range of volunteering opportunities.

They currently have 33 volunteers working around the country in variety of roles from befriending to helping with transport and administration.

Huntington’s Disease is a progressive, degenerative brain disorder that causes abnormal physical movements and psychiatric problems. It is hereditary with a 50% chance of the condition developing in the next generation, there is currently no cure.

 “I’m delighted to have received this award for our innovative approach to volunteering. We see volunteering as very much a two way process, our tailored made programme means people thinking about giving up some time can build it around other work and family commitments and still learn a new skill,” said SHA chief executive, John Eden.

SHA offers its volunteers ongoing certificated training to support each individual volunteer’s needs.

“Volunteering can be great way of refreshing a CV with some real time experience or simply building confidence to get back into the job market or even just to extend social networks,” said John.

‘Volunteers play an increasingly important role within the charity and without them we would not be able to offer the range of support that we do.”

For further information please call 0141 848 0308.