A befriender to an elderly couple has been recognised for her commitment to combatting loneliness.
 
Ellie Haggarty, a third-year student at UWS, has been awarded the Sir David Landale Prize in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the local community.

BSc Adult Nursing student Ellie Haggarty (30) signed up for befriending service Food Train Friends in 2017 and was paired with Bridie, an elderly woman who lived near to Ellie in Dumfries.

The pairing was initially intended to give Alec, Bridie’s husband, some time for himself - however, Alec soon found himself looking forward to Ellie’s visits, and so the three of them would all spend time together.

Bridie sadly passed away in 2019, but Ellie continues to visit Alec, who now lives an hour away from her.

Dumfries and Galloway’s population remains one of the oldest in Scotland, with 18.7% aged 70 or over. Research undertaken by Age Scotland suggests more than half of over 50s in Scotland experience loneliness.

The Sir David Landale Prize is awarded annually to the student who has made an “outstanding contribution to the Crichton Campus in the Dumfries and Galloway region”. The late Sir David was the founding Convenor of the Crichton Foundation, a charity that supports UWS and other academic institutions in the area.

A spokesperson for the Crichton Foundation said: “Being chosen as the winner is a wonderful testament to Ellie’s commitment not only to her studies but also her extra-curricular activities, which is exactly what Sir David wished to recognise and reward”. Ellie is the sixth recipient of the  £1,000 prize fund and second nursing student to be selected as the winner.

Being chosen as the winner is a wonderful testament to Ellie’s commitment not only to her studies but also her extra-curricular activities.

As part of her degree, Ellie is currently on placement working with the elderly. “Dumfries is very rural, and loneliness is a major thing here. Patients will come in because they are lonely- sometimes the nurse is the only person they will see all week.”

With lots of different befriending charities all across Scotland, Ellie is keen to encourage others to get involved. “The services will ask about your interests, and try to find a good match for you. It doesn’t need to be a huge commitment, it can be as little or as much as you want’.”

Dumfries is very rural, and loneliness is a major thing here. Patients will come in because they are lonely - sometimes the nurse is the only person they will see all week.

Ellie’s win highlights the importance of healthcare students in rural areas. UWS currently offer nursing degrees in Dumfries, Ayr, Lanarkshire and Paisley, with degrees that enable nurses to meet the requirements of a modern health care system, work in multi-professional teams and demonstrate leadership and management abilities. Details of bursaries, scholarships and financial incentives can be found on the UWS website. 
 
As for Ellie’s prize money, she’s not sure how she will spend it: “I’d like to finish University and graduate first. And then maybe a holiday before I start my next role!”.