29/09/2020
Was in total shock when Paul told me I had won Lockdown Local hero, I am very lucky to have a job that I enjoy. For me childminding isn’t just my job it’s my passion. I love spending time with all the children. Thank you very much Ppaul Hhartill for nominating me ❤️ was so lovely to hear what you had said.
Here is the article for anyone having trouble reading it online. It will be printed in this weeks Courier available on Thursday.
A childminder from Bathgate has won the accolade of our Lockdown Local Hero - receiving a framed certificate and a £100 gift card to spend, courtesy of The Centre, Livingston. Amanda Hartill (37) is the owner of Amanda’s Wee Pandas, a childcare service based in Wester Inch, where she stays. Amanda was delighted to hear that she’d won the award after being nominated by her husband Paul for her dedication to the families and children in her care during the lockdown period.
For the last six years The Centre has joined forces with The Courier to pay tribute to inspirational people from the local community who have helped others or excelled in their field. The Local Hero Award has highlighted some outstanding individuals and since the start of the pandemic the search was expanded to shine a light on the people who kept the country going during lockdown – from NHS staff and carers to shop workers, posties and delivery drivers. When the uncertainty of the pandemic was at its height, Amanda ensured that she opened for key workers as soon as was feasibly possible, giving the little ones a sense of normality at what was a very unsettling time.
Amanda’s husband Paul, a mental health nurse in the NHS, said: “I wanted to nominate Amanda for her unwavering optimism, passion, community work and dedication to strive for excellence despite facing adversity.
“The pandemic has had a huge impact on our family but through it all my wife has went over and above for the children and families she cares for. She takes great pride in helping and supporting the community and instils this community spirit in the work she does with the children. “She is forever researching, making gifts with the children for their parents, attending training courses and thinking of original, fun and creative ways she can work with the children to help them not only thoroughly enjoy their experience at Amanda’s Wee Pandas but to ensure they continue to develop further skills.”
Amanda said she is delighted to have won the award. She added: “I was very surprised and honoured when my husband told me. It is fantastic as a childminder to receive this recognition for the support I provide for the families I care for - childminders are often overlooked but play a very important role in the community. “The pandemic has been very challenging for childminders so I just wanted to say thank you for the award as it means a lot.” Ashley Bisland, deputy director at The Centre, Livingston, said: “At The Centre we believe that it’s imperative to celebrate the people who supported our community at the time it was needed most. “Our Lockdown Local Hero Award has uncovered a host of stories of selfless acts of kindness and community spirit. We were very touched to read Paul’s nomination and Amanda is a worthy winner, we hope that she uses her Gift Card on a few well-deserved treats.”
Courier editor Marjorie Kerr added: “I’m delighted that Amanda has been picked as our Lockdown Local Hero, as she obviously goes above and beyond for the children she cares for and their families.
“Well done Amaanda!”
If you know someone who is worthy of the title of Local Hero - from people who always go the extra mile to help others in the community, to those caring for family members or even someone who has excelled at school or a sports club and deserves recognition, please email [email protected] with your name, contact number and the reasons for your nomination.
Amanda Hartill, owner of Amanda’s Wee Pandas, won thanks to her dedication to the families and children in her care during lockdown
