News
Edie Gledhill is finalist for Scottish Charity Champion 2010
Congratulations to Edie!
Edie Gledhill, FOCUS Regional Coordinator for East has been nominated for the prestigious Scottish Charity Awards. Edie is a finalist in the "Charity Champion" category. The Charity Champion award recognises people who have made exceptional effort to advance the role of a particular issue.
Edie has devoted a great deal of time and effort to improve undertsanding and acceptance of mental health problems. Just a few of her achievements include helping set up a self harm network in 1975, starting the Edinburgh Bi Polar Self Help group in 1980. Edie started the first user information group at St John's Hopsital in Livingston. Edie has been the Chair of Bi Polar Scotland and Bi Polar Fife. Now working with FOCUS, her main aim is now to challenge stigma.
Edie at a recent FOCUS National Forum
Edie was nominated by Eddy Gorman, FOCUS Manager. In support of Edie's nomination he said:
"In my view Edie is an exceptional individual who has consistently contributed to the charity sector over many years. She has made a lifelong mission to promote awareness of mental health and to develop support for those individuals who are vulnerable and in distress.
Having a lifelong condition of Bipolar Disorder, which began in the early 1960s, Edie’s journey has included many excellent contributions over many years, bringing her to the present day. She is still working tirelessly to improve understanding and acceptance, to offer hope and to make a real difference in the lives of others. In 2009 Edie reached retirement age but asked that her work as a Regional Coordinator with the FOCUS team continue and this request was immediately approved.
In nominating Edie Gledhill as a Charity Champion, I am aware that she herself does not see herself as a Champion. Edie is incredibly modest about her life, and does not regard herself as worthy of an award. In her own words, she did what she did simply because she wanted to help others.
I believe this sentiment is at the heart of true charity, and so I would have no hesitation in recommending Edie Gledhill as a Champion who has promoted the good work of the sector, with an undiminished enthusiasm and commitment extending over a lifetime."
The winner of the award will be announced at an evening Gala dinner in the Mansfield Traquair Centre, Edinburgh on 10 June 2010. We wish Edie the very best of luck, but whatever the outcome, Edie is our Charity Champion.