2024 Citizens of the Year announced

Dundee’s Citizens of the Year for 2024 have been announced.

Each year a volunteer, or volunteers, from the community are chosen as a way to recognise their work and selfless efforts by naming them Citizens of the Year.

This year’s recipients are Lesley Nicoll, and her late-husband Phil Welsh, whose campaigning helped lead to the establishment of a 24-hour face-to-face service for people in distress or at risk of taking their own life.

Their efforts were a driving force in the creation of the Hope Point community wellbeing centre facility which opened its doors to the public in 2023.

Together, Lesley and Phil founded the Not in Vain for Lee campaign in memory of their son, Lee, who took his own life aged 27 in 2017.

They also successfully organised numerous fundraising efforts for mental health charities. Lesley continues to campaign and fundraise.

Lord Provost Bill Campbell said: “We again received a very high calibre of nominations for the Citizen of the Year initiative and I would like to thank everyone who put forward someone working selflessly for others.

“I chaired the selection process and it was very impressive to see the number of people in the city who are community-minded.

“I am very glad to announce Lesley Nicoll and her late-husband Phil Welsh as Dundee’s Citizens of the Year. They tirelessly campaigned together for the establishment of a Community Wellbeing Centre in the city which has since opened and is providing valuable support to our citizens 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

“Both Lesley and Phil were instrumental in the Hope Point facility coming to fruition and their efforts have been recognised by many in the city.

“I would like to congratulate Lesley for her tremendous efforts, and I would like to pay tribute to Phil Welsh for everything he has done for Dundee.”

Dundee 2024 Citizen of the Year recipient Lesley Nicoll said: “I am overwhelmed and honoured with this recognition and I know that my late partner Phil would be too.

“After losing our son to suicide in 2017 it was always our mission to ensure his death would not be in vain.

“We had visited the Edinburgh crisis centre and knew that Dundee desperately needed a 24 hour non referral safe space like this.

“Dundee now having the opportunity to utilise a space like this for all generations is fantastic and I am thankful that Phil was able to see the opening of the centre.”

Each year Dundee City Council seeks out a Citizen of the Year who has provided outstanding service to their community.

Judges look for someone who provides selfless service to a voluntary body or the community and who brings distinction and quality to everyday life in Dundee.

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