Community Champion 2025

Bridget Donnelly has been named as Age Scotland's first ever Community Champion.

This new award category celebrates small acts of kindness, generosity and support offered to older people by a friend, neighbour, shopkeeper, tradesperson or acquaintance that make a huge difference to the older person they are helping. 

Bridget has been recognised for always going the extra mile to support older people in her community in Greenock, in particular the residents of a retirement housing complex called John Galt House. 

She said: “My sister and brother-in-law came into this complex a number of years ago, so I got to know the rest of the residents and it went from there. 

“I come in everyday to do the daily newspaper delivery and on a Friday afternoon I do the afternoon tea and deliver fish and chips on a Saturday.  

“I take residents that need assistance down to the bank or go shopping with them. I always tell them to phone me anytime and if they need anything I can certainly go and do it for them.” 

Residents describe Bridget as ‘first-class’ and add they ‘just wouldn’t know what to do without her’. 

Betty, a resident at John Galt House, said: “Bridget will do anything in the world to help the people in here.” 

Fiona McWilliams, support warden at John Galt House, said: 

“Bridget makes a huge difference. Sometimes I feel a bit like as though she's the relief warden and she works here, but she doesn't. 

“She's kind of like our eyes and ears for us. She just helps everybody and nothing's too much bother. She'll take people to doctor's appointments and visit people in hospital. 

“We didn’t actually tell her that we'd nominated her for this award, and she just couldn’t believe she won.” 

Bridget, adds: 

“It's a great honour to win this award, although to be quite honest, I don't feel I deserve that honour. 

“I'm sure that everybody that was nominated has done tremendously and it's a pity that everybody can't get awards.”