High Life Highland inundated with nominations for i-care People’s Choice Award
It’s testament to the high value that members of the public place on High Life Highland staff, with over 200 nominations received in the People’s Choice category for the charity’s annual i-care awards, which take place later this month.
Nominations for the People’s Choice Award were received across all of High Life Highland’s seven services: sport, leisure, archives, libraries, countryside rangers, museums and galleries and music development.
It was a tricky task for the judging panel but the shortlist for the People’s Choice Award – sponsored by Stagecoach – has been whittled down to three! They are:
- Alan Gray – Active Schools Coordinator for Ardnamurchan.
- Steve Jones – gym instructor at Tain and Golspie Leisure Centres.
- The High Life Highland Music Team.
Alan Gray has also been shortlisted in the Outstanding Employee of the Year category, which is sponsored by Aqua Leisure, alongside Joshua Brannan, Leisure Supervisor and coach at Aviemore Community Centre and Pam Allan, who looks after the 18-bed High Life Highland Torrin Bunkhouse on Skye.
Stagecoach – sterling supporters of the High Life Highland Leadership Programme – are also sponsoring the Inspiring Young Leader Award this year, with finalists being Alyssa Tolmie and Harry MacLeod both from Inverness along with Scott MacKay from Smithton.
The shortlist for Star Volunteer of the Year – sponsored by Askews and Holts Library Services – are football coach Kevin Williamson and basketball coach Bryan Stevens both from Inverness and Gayle MacRae from Golspie, who helps with a variety of sporting and physical activities in the local area.
Finally, nominated in the High Performing Team of the Year category, sponsored by Zoggs, are the Green Libraries team, High Life Training Academy and the Schools Out Programme Launch team.
Michael Golding, Chair of the High Life Highland Board said: “The i-care awards are incredibly important to recognise the often unseen work that takes place throughout the year. I would like to congratulate all of our staff and volunteers who have been nominated for an award and particularly those individuals and teams that have made the shortlist. All of them are continually striving to make life better for the people of the Highlands.”
The winners will be announced at the High Life Highland 2025 i-care awards ceremony on Wednesday 29 October at the Strathpeffer Pavillion. The headline sponsors for the annual event are Macgregor Industrial Supplies, Mather & Co, Gladstone, Morrison Construction and Technogym.
There are eight categories in total at the High Life Highland i-care awards. The remaining categories are: The Highland Council Collaboration Award; The High Life Highland Trading Company Chair Award; High Life Highland Charity Chair Award.
