JENNIFER GARRITY
Kay started volunteering, first at her sons’ primary school and later at Inverclyde AC. Since the mid-1990s, Kay has supported school sports, club sessions, and coaching, earning qualifications in both athletics and throws.
As lead coach for the club’s U11 group, she fosters inclusion and care—values reflected in Inverclyde AC receiving the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services in 2009. Despite working demanding shifts, Kay gives up personal time and annual leave to coach, support events, and mentor young coaches.
She also helps run women’s fitness sessions and leads fundraising efforts for various community groups. Recently, she’s worked with the club's Sports Chaplain on welfare support strategies. Kay’s unwavering compassion and integrity make her a truly deserving nominee
Over the course of her time volunteering within our club, Jennifer has made an exceptional and lasting contribution. Her unwavering commitment has not only supported the development of the club but has also had a significant impact on how it is run. Taking on a wide range of voluntary roles over the years, she has consistently gone above and beyond to ensure the club thrives.Her impact extends far beyond individual achievement. Jennifer has been instrumental in developing the club and supporting events, helping to build a strong, sustainable environment for swimmers and volunteers alike. Many of today’s participants, volunteers, and coaches can trace their involvement back to her encouragement, guidance, and passion.What truly sets Jennifer apart is her consistency, humility, and genuine love for swimming and for the community. Her contribution spans many years of selfless service, often working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure others have the opportunity to grow, succeed, and enjoy the sport.This lifetime of dedication has left a meaningful and enduring mark on both the club and sport across Inverclyde, making her a truly deserving recipient of this recognition.
JIM BOYLAND
For over 35 years, Helen has been a vital part of Ardgowan Primary School, using country dancing to inspire and connect generations—particularly girls—with physical activity. Even after retiring, she volunteers her time to ensure the tradition of dance thrives. From August to Easter each year, she runs two weekly afterschool clubs, lunchtime sessions, and class workshops ahead of the Inverclyde Music Festival, contributing over 38 hours of extracurricular activity this year alone. Her volunteer work—worth over £645 annually—comes without compensation, driven solely by passion.
Helen’s influence goes beyond dance steps; she has introduced hundreds of children to performance, confidence, and teamwork, often offering a more inclusive entry point into sport. Her impact has empowered many girls to see themselves as leaders in physical activity. Most recently, she has volunteered to coordinate a new Inverclyde-wide dance celebration, continuing her lifelong commitment to community, inclusion, and cultural tradition.
I am proud to nominate Jim Boyland for a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his exceptional and enduring contribution to grassroots football and his community in Port Glasgow. For over 40 years, Jim has dedicated himself to developing young people through football, running weekly Friday night football sessions that have given generations of children a safe, structured, and inspiring environment to grow both on and off the pitch. As chairman of Port Glasgow Boys’ Club, Jim has been at the heart of local football, providing leadership, stability, and opportunity to countless young players. His commitment goes far beyond administration—he is a mentor, role model, and positive influence whose impact is measured not just in participation but in lives changed. Jimmy’s contribution to the game has already been recognised at a national level, having received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Scottish Football Association at Hampden Park—a testament to the scale and significance of his work. Beyond his longstanding work in grassroots football, Jim has continued to give his time to support young people in other settings. He has volunteered across multiple schools in Port Glasgow, most recently his grandchildren's school , delivering after-school football sessions and lending his support to netball clubs alongside his wife Joan, further demonstrating his passion for encouraging participation, teamwork, and confidence in young people across different sports. Even in the face of significant health challenges in recent years, Jim has shown remarkable resilience and determination, continuing to inspire those around him with his positive attitude and unwavering commitment to his community. Jim Boyland embodies everything a Lifetime Achievement Award represents: longevity, impact, leadership, and selfless service. His influence has shaped generations of young people, strengthened his community, and left a lasting legacy in grassroots sport. It is with the utmost respect and admiration that I strongly recommend Jim Boyland for this award.
DAVID GILLIES
For over 35 years, Helen has been a vital part of Ardgowan Primary School, using country dancing to inspire and connect generations—particularly girls—with physical activity. Even after retiring, she volunteers her time to ensure the tradition of dance thrives. From August to Easter each year, she runs two weekly afterschool clubs, lunchtime sessions, and class workshops ahead of the Inverclyde Music Festival, contributing over 38 hours of extracurricular activity this year alone. Her volunteer work—worth over £645 annually—comes without compensation, driven solely by passion.
Helen’s influence goes beyond dance steps; she has introduced hundreds of children to performance, confidence, and teamwork, often offering a more inclusive entry point into sport. Her impact has empowered many girls to see themselves as leaders in physical activity. Most recently, she has volunteered to coordinate a new Inverclyde-wide dance celebration, continuing her lifelong commitment to community, inclusion, and cultural tradition.
David Gilles is a truly deserving nominee for the Inverclyde Sports Personality Lifetime Achievement Award. For over 40 years at Gourock Karate Club, he has welcomed thousands into his dojo, ensuring every student felt valued and never out of place. Through his natural charisma, he builds strong connections with his students, nurturing confidence while teaching essential life values such as perseverance, discipline, and respect.
His extreme determination and unwavering commitment are clear in the fact he has rarely missed a session, offering a constant, stable presence that generations have relied upon. David leads by example, providing a consistent and compassionate role model both on and off the mat. Beyond coaching, he has been a trusted source of advice and support, always making time to listen and guide. A true servant to the community, his lifelong impact reaches far beyond karate, this further reiterates his deserved case for being nominated for the life time achievement award, as Davids continuous support of his students and the lasting affect, he has on the life of anyone he interacts with is an achievement, in its own right making him a worth candidate.
NICKY LOW
For over 35 years, Helen has been a vital part of Ardgowan Primary School, using country dancing to inspire and connect generations—particularly girls—with physical activity. Even after retiring, she volunteers her time to ensure the tradition of dance thrives. From August to Easter each year, she runs two weekly afterschool clubs, lunchtime sessions, and class workshops ahead of the Inverclyde Music Festival, contributing over 38 hours of extracurricular activity this year alone. Her volunteer work—worth over £645 annually—comes without compensation, driven solely by passion.
Helen’s influence goes beyond dance steps; she has introduced hundreds of children to performance, confidence, and teamwork, often offering a more inclusive entry point into sport. Her impact has empowered many girls to see themselves as leaders in physical activity. Most recently, she has volunteered to coordinate a new Inverclyde-wide dance celebration, continuing her lifelong commitment to community, inclusion, and cultural tradition.
Nicky Low is an outstanding example of someone who has achieved at the highest level in football while remaining deeply committed to the community that shaped him. Beginning his journey with East End Boys Club in Greenock, Nicky progressed through the Aberdeen Youth Academy to enjoy a successful professional career spanning more than 15 years, representing clubs including Aberdeen, Dundee, Derry City, Queen of the South, Arbroath, Kelty Hearts and Clydebank. He achieved the dream of many young Inverclyde footballers, yet his greatest legacy is arguably what he has done since.
Throughout his career and beyond, Nicky has continually invested his own time back into Inverclyde. Through Nicky Low Community Coaching, he delivers coaching sessions, school programmes and football opportunities alongside local charities, creating positive experiences and trusted relationships for hundreds of young people. Much of this work is undertaken voluntarily, driven by a genuine desire to help young people thrive rather than for recognition.
Nicky's coaching has also been a huge help to Greenock Juniors 2009s who celebrated a historic West Region Cup win and a narrow penalty loss in the League Cup final.
This year alone, Nicky completed an incredible fundraising challenge, raising over £8,000 through cycling and walking to support local charitable causes. He has also shown immense courage by speaking openly about his own experiences of mental health and suicidal thoughts, helping to break stigma and encouraging young people across Inverclyde to ask for help when they need it most.
Nicky embodies everything a Lifetime Achievement Award should recognise. He has represented Inverclyde with distinction as a professional footballer, but more importantly has returned home to inspire the next generation through coaching, mentoring, education, fundraising and community service. He is proof that true success is not measured only by trophies and appearances, but by the lasting difference you make in the lives of others. Nicky Low is a role model, an ambassador for Inverclyde and someone whose contribution to sport and the wider community will be felt for many years to come.
PAUL GIFFNEY
For over 35 years, Helen has been a vital part of Ardgowan Primary School, using country dancing to inspire and connect generations—particularly girls—with physical activity. Even after retiring, she volunteers her time to ensure the tradition of dance thrives. From August to Easter each year, she runs two weekly afterschool clubs, lunchtime sessions, and class workshops ahead of the Inverclyde Music Festival, contributing over 38 hours of extracurricular activity this year alone. Her volunteer work—worth over £645 annually—comes without compensation, driven solely by passion.
Helen’s influence goes beyond dance steps; she has introduced hundreds of children to performance, confidence, and teamwork, often offering a more inclusive entry point into sport. Her impact has empowered many girls to see themselves as leaders in physical activity. Most recently, she has volunteered to coordinate a new Inverclyde-wide dance celebration, continuing her lifelong commitment to community, inclusion, and cultural tradition.
Paul has been a volunteer for 29 years at Inverkip Primary school. He trains the athletics team weekly all year round. He volunteers 6 hours a week giving up every lunch time and 1 day after school. The success he has had over his 3 decades is shown through Inverkip primary winning the local sportshall event 18 years running and winning the west national sportshall finals 8 years with 6 years consecutively. On top of this Paul arranges teams for other athletics events such as heptathlon and sprint relays, along with the school sports day and P.7 PE championship. He creates a fun and competitive environment which the children absolutely love and this is shown through their commitment to weekly training sessions. Roughly Paul works regularly with 25-50 pupils throughout the year giving them their first taste of competitive athletics equating to around 400 pupils over his 3 decades. The hours Paul has given up to volunteer equate to around 2,000 hours.