A woman who has dedicated her life to making sure the neediest in her community are taken care of has been named Dundee’s Citizen of the Year 2018.
Volunteering in food banks, helping patients sick from cancer and organising tea dances for the city’s older people are just a snapshot of the work, time and energy Debbie Findlay offers up.
Now, following a deluge of noble entries from across the city, she has been named as Dundee Citizen of the Year 2018.
She follows last year’s awardee George Roberts and previous winners British Empire Medal recipient Stella Carrington and local businessman Mohammed Issa in the annals of Dundee history.
Dundee born and raised, Debbie, 48, and her husband spent time in Uganda as missionaries, before returning to the city to do all they can to help as many as they could through the Lifegate church.
Mrs Findlay, who also runs a cafe in Whitfield for people suffering from the effects of poverty, said she was “gobsmacked” after being nominated by the very people she set out to help.
She met Lord Provost Ian Borthwick at an announcement ceremony in the city chambers on Wednesday afternoon.
He said Mrs Findlay shone in a field full of very worthy entrants and thanked everyone who submitted nominations for what was a difficult decision.
Mrs Findlay helped set up a cafe in 2014 in the Whitfield church, which caters for people living in poverty offering food, grocery parcels and a place to take respite.
She has watched it grow since then, from an organisation which catered for less than 10 people in the beginning to one that regularly seats 100 people in need of help.
“Every Friday people can come and get a hot meal, they can get groceries and clothes which they can help themselves to,” she said.
“We feed between 75-100 people of varying ages per week. There are toddlers, older people, people who are unemployed and sanctioned and also people who work.
“It is set in a café environment so that people don’t feel there is a finger pointing at them. There is a lot of dignity there — it is very important for people to keep their dignity.”
Mrs Findlay was keen to stress the importance of making sure people in Dundee were aware what is occurring and also the help available for people going hungry.
As well as helping run the cafe, she has been integral in the organisation of an older person’s tea dance, giving those in the community who may be suffering from loneliness the chance to meet up with peers and let their hair down.
She added: “I noticed there was quite a bit of isolation and loneliness in the community.
“I wanted to do something because these people have worked all their lives, they’ve helped shape society for us and I just wanted to give something back.
“We started tea dances in Whitfield, at the beginning of last year.
“The numbers of people coming have increased very quickly, so much so that we have a waiting list.
“It is so amazing to see everyone who comes along, we have one gentleman who is 103 years old, he ball room dances and it is beautiful.”
Debbie said she has no plans to rest on her laurels, with motions in place already to help more people in the city.
She is on the board of a new, Dundee-based cancer respite charity Can Do and would like to expand the opening hours of the tea dance and cafe in Whitfield.
Mrs Findlay thanked all of her “amazing” volunteers who give their time, adding: “It should be them who get this award.”
Mr Borthwick said: “We are all extremely impressed with the work Debbie does in the community.
“There was a very good range of entrants for the award this year and I thank The Courier for their assistance in helping promote it.”
