News
Awards for Jennefer
Jennefer Tobin scooped not one, but two prestigious awards in December at Dumfries & Galloway Life magazine’s annual People of the Year award lunch.
Jennefer won the Volunteer of the Year award for her work in setting up Southwest Scotland RnR. She then lifted the overall award and was named Dumfries & Galloway’s Person of the Year. The judges, who were unanimous in declaring Jennefer the overall winner, described her as “outstanding” and “a worthy Champion of Champions.”
Chairman of the judging panel, Dame Barbara Kelly, said: “I am filled with admiration at the contribution Jennefer has made in helping and supporting our injured service personnel, as they strive to patch together their future lives.
“Her compassion, generosity and determination to make a difference by welcoming them into her home and into the community is an inspiration to us all. Her award is richly deserved.”
Judge Tricia Hunter said: “It was, without doubt, that Jennefer was the overall winner, not only from the large number of nominations received from such a variety of people, but the personal comments they made about what she has accomplished in such a short period of time.
“Jennefer is clearly making a huge difference in providing an adventure holiday for injured service personnel. She has successfully set it up and involved the local community in many different ways and the satisfaction for all is impressive, humbling and absolutely worthwhile.”
Mentioned in Parliament
MSP Alex Fergusson, who was a guest at the lunch – and an RnR supporter – tabled a motion in Holyrood: That the Parliament congratulates Dumfries and Galloway Life magazine on organising the Dumfries and Galloway People of the Year 2011 awards; considers it important to recognise the outstanding achievements and efforts shown by all nominees in the Community, Enterprise, Arts and Leisure and Food and Drink categories; wishes all those involved continued success in what it considers their excellent work and congratulates the individual category winners; especially congratulates Jennefer Tobin on winning both the Volunteer of the Year and the Dumfries and Galloway Person of the Year awards, and understands that these awards are in recognition of what it considers to be the selfless and outstanding work that she has given to the establishment and running of the charity, South West Scotland R and R, an organisation that offers a week’s organised rest and recreation for armed forces personnel returning from frontline duties to facilitate their return to non-active duties.
The motion was supported by: John Lamont, Murdo Fraser, Jim Hume, Nanette Milne, Liz Smith, Paul Wheelhouse, Jamie McGrigor, Jackie Baillie, Kenneth Gibson, Annabelle Ewing, Aileen McLeod, Joan McAlpine, Hugh Henry, Bill Kidd, Margaret Burgess.
It has been quite a year for Jennefer, beginning last Christmas with floods from burst pipes, followed by two fires which caused much devastation in the house. Somehow, she managed to get enough of the renovations completed in time for the first group of Marines in May.
Quite overwhelmed by the nominations and accolades, Jennefer is, nonetheless, absolutely delighted at receiving the awards – seeing it as a means to raise the profile of Southwest Scotland RnR. Appearing on the front cover of Dumfries & Galloway Life magazine (and inside) will certainly help do that.
Awards for Jennefer
Jennefer Tobin scooped not one, but two prestigious awards in December at Dumfries & Galloway Life magazine’s annual People of the Year award lunch.
Kirkcudbright Inner Wheel
Members of The Inner Wheel of Kirkcudbright presented a cheque for £500 to Southwest Scotland RnR
Kirkcudbright British Legion and Tides Inn
Representatives of Kirkcudbright Branch Royal British Legion presented Jennefer Tobin, chair of Southwest Scotland RnR, with a cheque for £310 at the charity’s base in Carsethorn.
Village Hall Committee raises cash for RnR
Ringford Village Hall committee raises cash for Southwest Scotland RnR through a series of event.
Male Voice Choir sings for RnR
The Dumfries Male Voice Choir held a concert for Southwest Scotland RnR in November in Dalbeattie Town Hall in November and raised a staggering £1300 for the charity.
Dumfries United Reformed Church
The congregation of the United Reformed Church in Dumfries recently donated £1,000 to Southwest Scotland RnR.
Bighearted Scot award for Jennefer
Founder and chairman of Southwest Scotland RnR, Jennefer Tobin has won the Bighearted Scot of the Year award for her dedication to helping injured service personnel.
Thank you to Kitsons
A big thank you to Kitsons Environmental Ltd who installed scaffolding to allow vital repair work to continue at RnR’s End House, which was badly damaged by fire in February.
MSP donates pension to charities
Southwest Scotland RnR is delighted to be one of the three charities West Dumfries MSP Alex Fergusson has nominated to receive cash from his Presiding Officer’s pension.
Improved Access
Southwest Scotland RnR has been able to improve access to the home where injured service personnel come for adventure holidays, thanks to funding from the Dumfries Lions Club, Royal Marine Charities and practical help from 3 Rifles.
St Margaret's Church Ladies Guild raise cash for RnR
The Ladies Guild of St Margaret's Church, New Galloway in Dumfries & Galloway held a plant and cake sale to raise funds for Southwest Scotland RnR and presented Jennefer Tobin with a cheque for £600. It is not the first time the Ladies Guild have generously donated cash to the charity.
Cyclists raise funds for RnR
Kevin Wilson-Smith and a group of friends from the Dumfries and Galloway area have donated over £500 to Southwest Scotland RnR. They raised the money by taking part in a 50 mile sponsored cycle ride around the Lockerbie Loop.
RBS Community Fund Winner
Southwest Scotland RnR has been awarded a £3,000 cash donation from RBS thanks to an enthusiastic voting campaign by local residents. The cash will go towards adventure holidays for injured combatants who units cannot afford to send them.
