A Dumfries charity has been shortlisted in three categories of this year’s Scottish Veterans Awards.
The Dumfries Veterans Garden is in the running for the Health and Wellbeing accolade, while Mark Harper, who heads the project, is up for Volunteer of the Year and The Community Award.
Winners of the competition, sponsored by Joint Force Alba, will be announced at a ceremony in Edinburgh on April 19.
Although the Dumfries team will have to wait until next month while an independent judging panel chooses the overall winners, some of them attended a certificate presentation, filming and networking day for the finalists at the Castle Club, Edinburgh Castle, on Wednesday.
Mark said: “We are absolutely delighted as this is the second year in a row we have been finalists in the Health and Wellbeing category at the Scottish Veterans Awards. We must be doing something right.
“I am honoured to be a finalist. It means a lot to see what we achieve here and the difference it makes to people’s lives.
“The Scottish Veterans Awards do so much to acknowledge the achievements of those working within their communities to improve the lives of veterans and families and we are proud to do what we do.
“We had a great day at Edinburgh Castle receiving our certificates and it was great meeting some of the other finalists. We are looking forward to meeting them again at the awards finals night.”
The charity works to help ex-services personnel suffering from mental health problems.
As well as a meeting place for veterans to gather, work and socialise with people who have experienced similar challenges, it also provides counselling which has been taken up not only by veterans in Dumfries and Galloway but also from across Scotland.
They also run a breakfast club and welcome local clubs, groups, and schools and anyone struggling with mental health difficulties.
The awards night, in support of The ABF The Soldiers’ Charity Scotland, will be hosted by radio presenter Mark McKenzie.
