Latest news with #S.M.I.L.E.
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
West Lothian mental health counsellor receives volunteer award from The Centre, Livingston
Jodi McNeill is a counsellor at S.M.I.L.E. Counselling in Livingston. Local superstar, Jodi McNeill has been awarded a well-deserved Volunteer Award and a £100 gift card by The Centre, Livingston in recognition of her outstanding work in the community. The aim of the Award, which has been running for many years, is to reward and recognise the fantastic work carried out by people in West Lothian who give up their time to help others and pay tribute to them with a personalised framed certificate and gift card to treat themselves. Jodi is a counsellor at S.M.I.L.E. Counselling in Livingston. S.M.I.L.E. was the shopping centre's first charity partner of the year, was founded 10 years ago by Declan Harrigan, to promote and support the mental health and wellbeing of young people aged 11 to 24 in West Lothian by providing free and affordable counselling, ensuring young people can access the right support at the right time. The services provided include face-to-face sessions to help with mental health challenges, including anxiety, trauma, and stress and also group sessions to promote mental health awareness and resilience in young people and their families. The charity also partners with schools to provide on-site counselling, workshops and mental health education. Jodi, who has been volunteering with the charity for almost two years, works with children and young people to support them through the many challenges they are facing with their mental health and wellbeing. Her role includes providing one-to-one support, delivering group work, helping out at events and taking part in wider community engagement initiatives. Kerry Hutchison, Schools Counsellor Team Leader at S.M.I.L.E. Counselling, who nominated Jodi, said: 'Jodi's natural ability to connect, listen and respond to young people with empathy makes her a vital part of our team. 'From one-to-one support to leading group sessions and representing S.M.I.L.E. at community events, Jodi goes above and beyond, which is why I wanted to nominate her for this amazing award. 'She truly embodies our values and continues to have a lasting impact on both the young people and the wider community.' Jodi said: 'Volunteering at S.M.I.L.E. Counselling, with a team that's so passionate and dedicated to helping young people, has been one of the most rewarding parts of my life. 'The role offers me the chance to volunteer in lots of different ways. No two days are ever the same, and that variety is a big part of what makes this experience so meaningful and rewarding. 'What I really love most about it, is being able to make a genuine difference in a young person's life. Seeing the positive changes, no matter how small, and knowing you've helped someone feel heard and supported is an incredible feeling. 'There's a real sense of community in the work we do, and I'm constantly inspired by the resilience and strength of the young people I meet. 'Some of the highlights for me include those special moments when a young person reaches a breakthrough, or when they come back and tell you how much the support has meant to them. 'I would like to say a huge thank you to the team for nominating me which means so much and to The Centre, Livingston for presenting me with this wonderful award and gift card – it was such a lovely surprise! Tess Sundberg, marketing manager at The Centre, Livingston said: 'It was such an honour to be able to present our Volunteer Award and Gift Card to Jodi in recognition of the incredible work she has been doing to help young people in the community and hear more about the valuable services and support the charity provides. 'If you know someone who is also going the extra mile and making a big difference helping people in West Lothian, please contact us so that we shine a bright light on them and reward them for all of their efforts.' To mark the charity's 10th anniversary this year, S.M.I.L.E. Counselling have launched a new fundraising campaign, 'Your £10, Their Tomorrow', to encourage people to donate £10 a month to help safeguard a vital mental health service for children and young people for the next 10 years and beyond. For more information about the services and support, and the latest fundraising campaign, check out their website, All nominations for The Centre, Livingston Volunteer Award can be emailed to enquiries@
CBC
10-02-2025
- General
- CBC
'Shock and disbelief': Acadia University pulling the plug on its aging pool
Acadia University in Wolfville, N.S., will permanently close its swimming pool on June 15 due to the ongoing cost of maintaining it. In a news release, the school said the pool has operated at an annual deficit of $400,000 — "a cost that has become unsustainable." "The pool that we've had for 60 years has really reached the end of its life," said Acadia president and vice-chancellor Jeff Hennessy. "It's got leaks, water quality issues, filtration issues. The cost to repair it is in the millions and that's just to prolong the life of what really is not a great facility." A consultant's report last November noted that the pool has been leaking and requires major repairs that include new tiles. It also said mechanical systems like filtration and HVAC are at the end of their life. The estimated cost of repairs is about $ 3 million. Hennessy said the state of the pool had been discussed for years, but the report was the final blow. Acadia's varsity swim program will be discontinued starting next season. The university said it will keep the pool operational until the end of this season "so long as water quality and safety can be maintained." "Our focus now is really on their well-being, getting them through the season, getting them through the year and figuring out how to support them in their decisions for the future," Hennessy said. There are about 50 students on the swim team. Hennessy said it was important to let the students know about the decision now so they can make decisions about staying at Acadia or transferring. S.M.I.L.E. program Hennessy acknowledged the pool's importance at the school and to the wider community, including the Acadia S.M.I.L.E. (Sensory Motor Instructional Leadership Experience) program, which provides physical activity for people with varying disabilities. He said S.M.I.L.E. would continue, just without the pool. Elsie Gillis, a volunteer with the program, said using the pool is a favourite activity for many. "It's definitely a highlight and a lot of participants love it." Call for a community pool Hennessy said he would like to see the pool replaced with a community facility. "The pool need is really more of a community need than it is an Acadia need, so we're happy to lend our support behind the local community to build something for the community needs, but our fundraising efforts really have to go into other priorities," Hennessy said. Adam Deutsch, the swim program's alumni co-ordinator, said the pool closure is "gut-wrenching." "I grew up in the area," he said. "I actually swam in that specific pool all through from over 10 years old until my early 20s. So [I'm] just completely devastated. It felt like a piece of me almost leaving. It was very sad." Deutsch said there is a lot of frustration with the situation. He said others have reached out to him about why there hasn't been consultation, why the announcement came so close to the conference championship meet on Feb. 21 in Fredericton and why the decision was made now. "Having spent so much time in the pool in my life, it was common knowledge there were issues with the pool," he said, but added he never heard of anything major. Decision surprises Swim Nova Scotia Bette El-Hawary, the executive director of Swim Nova Scotia, said the news came as a surprise. "I think my initial reaction was a little bit of a shock and disbelief like many other people with no idea that … we were at this point with that pool," El-Hawary said. She said she has requested a copy of the consultant's report. Losing the pool will have a significant and lasting impact in the community, El-Hawary said. She pointed to the Wolfville Tritons swim club. She said many community members use the pool and she referenced the S.M.I.L.E. program. El-Hawary hopes the municipality and province will work with the university to save the pool since the next closest indoor pool is at 14 Wing Greenwood.
