The founding father of a charity tackling loneliness in Ayrshire by means of the facility of pets has been honoured with a high award.
Louise Russell, who runs Give a Canine a Bone, has scooped a prestigious Pleasure of Scotland Group Hero award for her inspiring work to help the aged.
The charity which has a neighborhood area in Troon together with a Pet Meals Financial institution, gives free actions and a staff of lovable companionship canine.
Louise, 47, was offered with the accolade at a glitzy ceremony hosted by comedians Elaine C. Smith and Sanjeev Kohil on the Meeting Corridor in Edinburgh on Tuesday.
Nonetheless Recreation stars Greg Hemphill and Gavin Mitchell offered her award, with the selfless charity boss additionally praised by Ricky Gervais with the UK comedian and large canine lover sending a heartfelt video message.
And the award got here with a £10,000 increase for the charity from the award’s sponsor TSB.
Obtain the Ayrshire Stay app at the moment
The Ayrshire Stay app is obtainable to obtain now.
Get all of the native information in your space – plus options, soccer information and the most recent on the coronavirus disaster – at your fingertips 24/7.
The free obtain options the most recent breaking information and unique tales when you can customise your web page with the sections that matter to you.
The Ayrshire Stay app is obtainable to obtain now on iOS and Android.
Louise stated: “It’s pretty to be honoured on this manner and I hope it is going to assist it is going to shed extra mild on the work we do at Give a Canine a Bone.
“It’s an actual staff effort and I wouldn’t be capable to function the service I do with no fantastic staff of employees and volunteers behind me."
Louise dreamed of organising a charity which might deal with two points near her coronary heart – animal welfare and isolation in older individuals.
Give a Canine a Bone helps pensioners by eradicating a number of the monetary obstacles in adopting a rescue pet.
The charity helps with the price of rehoming a rescue animal and ongoing assist with insurance coverage prices.
The Troon neighborhood area within the city’s Ayr Road is one in every of three areas throughout the nation with one in Shawlands, Glasgow and Alloa.
The three areas present a bunch of free actions for the over 60s together with Group Canine Walks, Reflexology, Chair Yoga, Artwork Membership and Singing for Wellbeing periods.
Louise added: “We’re happy with the charity’s twin function and over the previous 9 years we’re delighted to have introduced hundreds of animals and older individuals collectively.
“It’s so vital to sort out social isolation and we welcome anybody who needs to return alongside to one in every of our neighborhood areas to pop in for a cup of tea, a chat, some enjoyable actions and to satisfy the canine belonging to our employees and volunteers.”
Do not miss the most recent Ayrshire headlines –signal as much as our free each day publication right here