New award for SSAFA in Scotland to Perth & Kinross volunteer for prison work

21 February 2023

To recognise the sterling work of volunteers and staff of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity in Scotland, the Regional Recognition Award (RRA) has been established and the first recipients named.

The aim of the RRA is to formally acknowledge extra endeavour, and the award takes the form of a specially commissioned SSAFA Scotland Region engraved plaque. Recipients will be announced quarterly in February, May, August, and November.

Among those in the first cohort, announced this month, is Andy Middlemiss, Branch Chairman SSAFA Perth & Kinross.

Andy, 74, has been a volunteer for SSAFA since the day in 2000 when, after 33 years serving all over the globe with the King's Own Scottish Borderers, he left the Army as a lieutenant colonel. Andy’s award is primarily for his coordination of the Scottish element of SSAFA’s work with VCJS (Veterans in the Criminal Justice System).

A fourth-generation soldier – his grandfather was a Royal Army Medical Corps doctor at Gallipoli, and his father a regular who was at Dunkirk, Alamein, and D-Day in WWII – his eldest son Peter is a serving lieutenant colonel in the Scots Guards.

Of his RRA, Andy – who holds a British Empire Medal and is a Deputy Lieutenant of the Perth and Kinross Lieutenancy – said: “I’m honoured to be selected for this award, partly in recognition for what I have tried to do for veterans in prison over many years. We have great relations with the Veterans in Custody Support Officers (VICSOs) and am about to go to their national conference, in HMP Castle Huntly near Dundee, to give a SSAFA update and to hear from them how we might do even better.

“I have loved being on the Scottish Resources Committee, of old, for many years, and now enjoy working with the fabulous Graham Meacher to strive for excellence in Scotland, and help him run the SSAFA Scotland national conference October 10-11.”

“I really enjoy being a volunteer and have made lasting friendships among fellow volunteers, and I hope have made a difference to the lives of many clients along the way.”

Andy described those volunteers in SSAFA Perth & Kinross as a “wonderful team”, adding: “They’re great, dedicated people who are also close friends, and we’re proud of what we get done, like helping well over 100 clients in the area in a wide variety of ways in 2022, so hats off to the Perth and Kinross Branch volunteers.”

Graham Meacher, SSAFA’s Scottish Regional Chair, said: “This new Regional Recognition Award acknowledges those who have added significant value specifically to the Scottish Region, their branches, SSAFA in general, and most importantly to the clients that they have helped directly or indirectly.

“The work they carry out and subsequent improvement to lives of veterans, serving personnel, and their families is immeasurable, life changing, and in some cases life saving.

“Generally managing large caseloads, working under pressure, and assisting – with compassion and humour – individuals often experiencing in the most trying of circumstances, the recipients of the Regional Recognition Award embody all that is good about SSAFA.”

For more information, including how to volunteer, fundraise or access support, visit ssafa.org.uk/scotland.