Celebrating Lily’s outstanding contribution to The Steading
We are very pleased to share that our volunteer Lily Cameron has been recognised at the Midlothian Volunteer Awards 2026, winning a Saltire Summit Award for her outstanding contribution to volunteering.
The awards ceremony took place on Thursday 4 June 2026 at Newbattle Abbey College, hosted by Midlothian Community Action as part of Volunteers Week. The awards celebrate the people and groups who give their time, energy and care to communities across Midlothian.
Lily was named as one of this year’s Saltire Summit winners, representing Rosewell Development Trust and The Steading.
What makes the Saltire Summit Award special?
The Saltire Summit Award is the highest level of Saltire Award, recognising young volunteers who have made an outstanding contribution through volunteering.
It is also a limited award. Only 12 young people in each local authority area can receive a Saltire Summit Award each year, and volunteers must be nominated by the organisation they volunteer with.
That makes Lily’s achievement particularly special. It recognises not only the number of hours she has given, but the way she has become such a valued part of The Steading.
Lily’s volunteering journey
Lily first joined us at The Steading in June 2024 as part of the volunteering section of her Duke of Edinburgh Award. Since then, she has become a familiar and reliable part of our Saturday team.
Every week, Lily volunteers on the Welcome Desk, where she helps with bookings, payments, enquiries and general support for visitors. She settled into the role quickly and has become someone staff can fully rely on.
Her volunteering has gone far beyond the Welcome Desk. Lily has supported children’s activities, helped prepare resources, made Christmas decorations, assembled large numbers of Lego figures, and regularly steps in during school holidays and events when extra help is needed.
One example that says a lot about Lily’s attitude was when she ran out of time to finish a set of Christmas decorations. Rather than leave the job unfinished, she asked her mum to bring her back to The Steading after school so she could complete them.
By April 2026, Lily had already completed around 250 hours of volunteering with us.
A valued part of The Steading
Lily is calm, friendly, thoughtful and willing to get stuck in wherever help is needed. She has also supported staff with digital tasks, sharing her interest in computing and helping others build confidence.
As her confidence grew, Lily also applied for a part-time waitressing role in The Village Café at The Steading. Even with paid work and her Highers to balance, she has continued to volunteer with us every weekend.
She has also been exploring ideas for new community activities, including a possible cinema night, showing real initiative and care for the wider community.
Thank you, Lily
Everyone at Rosewell Development Trust and The Steading would like to congratulate Lily on this well-deserved award.
Her commitment, reliability and kindness make a real difference here, and we are very lucky to have her as part of The Steading.
If Lily’s story has made you think about volunteering, you can find out more about volunteering at The Steading or get in touch with us.
