Milngavie man, Willie Taylor was the toast of the town recently as his time as a Children's Panel volunteer was honoured at a special retirement event.
Hosted by East Dunbartonshire's Depute Provost Gary Pews at the Council HQ in Kirkintilloch, the celebration honoured Willie's 20 years working with and helping local children and young people.
Willie is retiring after two decades of volunteering with the Children's Panel, during which time he carried out many roles in addition to being a Panel Member including Learning and Development Coordinator, member of the Area Support Team and Chair of the Training Committee.
The Children's Panel relies on around 2,500 specially trained volunteers, like Willie, from all walks of life, to help protect the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable children and young people.
Willie has listened, discussed and, as part of a panel, has made the best possible decisions for the children or young person at children’s panel hearings.
He said, "The Children's Panel deals with the most vulnerable children in the area. Whether they are there on offence or welfare grounds, they need and deserve the best that we as a society can do for them."
It is appropriate that Depute Provost Pews helped mark the end of Willie's time with the Children's Panel as it was he, in 1999, in his role as then Chair of the Children’s Panel Advisory Committee, who appointed him.
Depute Provost Pews said, "The interview team I was a part of back in 1999 could see that Willie had all the qualities of care and compassion that we were looking for. It was no surprise that three years later we re-appointed him for a further term, and I was delighted to hear that he went on to serve the panel for a total of 20 years. It is very fitting that he has now been honoured in recognition of his contribution to the Children’s Panel in East Dunbartonshire.
"Over the years Willie’s input and contribution to the Children’s Panel will have touched the lives of some of East Dunbartonshire’s most vulnerable residents and on behalf of the community I would like to thank him for all his hard work and dedication.”
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