An award-winning Renton woman has told how personal tragedy prompted her to begin a 15-year volunteering career with Balloch children’s charity CHAS.

Tracy Brittan, 52, was named Citizen of the Year at the recent Provost’s Civic Awards in recognition of her work supporting the charity since 2002.

That year, Tracy tragically lost a baby to a miscarriage at 20 weeks, and it forced her to look for a positive cause to help her cope with her grief.

She responded to an appeal an appeal to help build of Robin House in Balloch, and has been involved with the charity ever since.

She told the Reporter: “The volunteering opportunity helped me with the grieving process because it allowed me to get my act back together and to get out of the house and try to help people. I think that the experience helps me to understand better what people are going through and empathise with families because I know what they’re going through.”

Tracy’s own experience coping with grief and loss has helped her in the work she does at Robin House, where she helps support young people with life-shortening conditions and their families with a word of encouragement, or even just a “friendly hug”.

Tracy and her husband George later adopted a seven-year-old daughter, Allison, who has since grown up to have her own child. Now a gran to 21-month old Arron, Tracy is enjoying changing nappies and teaching the alphabet amongst other welcome duties.

Born in Paisley, she grew up and spent the first 22 years of her life in Milngavie, before later moving to Lochgoilhead and settling in Renton with George, who works in security for the Ministry of Defence.

Alongside her volunteering and family commitments, Tracy works full time in the NHS as a call handler, a job which she says provides her with the flexibility to be able to give time to CHAS.

She said: “I get involved and volunteer as and when I can really and often go after work.

“We get notifications and regular newsletters telling us about all the different things that the charity’s doing and how we can help out with what’s happening.”

Tracy admitted she was ‘shellshocked’ by her award win on the night of the ceremony and said that it was an ‘encouraging’ sign that so many people nominated her and were connected to local charities and the community.

She said: “It would be great if I can help to spur more people on to help out and volunteer. I’m quite a shy person and so if I can do it, then I think that anyone can.

“It can be daunting to pick up the phone, find out what opportunities are there and get involved, but it would be good if more people in West Dunbartonshire help out and volunteer however they can.”

In presenting the award to Tracy, Provost Douglas McAllister paid tribute to her efforts in the community and claimed that she was worthy recipient of the Citizen of the Year accolade.

He said: “Tracy Brittan is a fantastic advocate for the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland, and a shining example to everyone in the community.

“She has worked quietly in the background, and given her time freely for the last 15 years to not only raise much needed funds for CHAS and its hospice in Balloch but also raise awareness of the charity.

“She is a fitting winner of the Citizen of the Year award.”

Morven MacLean, volunteering development manager at CHAS, said: “We are delighted to see Tracy recognised as both West Dunbartonshire Volunteer Champion and Citizen of the Year.

“She’s been with us ever since, raising vital funds for children with life-shortening conditions to be supported in our hospices and hospice at home service – CHAS at Home.

“Fundraising volunteers do not always get the recognition they deserve as their activity is behind the scenes and sometimes a little unglamorous.

“Tracy is a true champion of fundraising volunteering and without her and our other incredible fundraising volunteers we couldn’t do what we do for children and families.”