Celebrating our volunteers
At Greener Kirkcaldy, over 120 dedicated volunteers give their time, energy and passion to support our work. Each volunteer brings something unique to our projects.
Three of our amazing volunteers are shortlisted in Fife Voluntary Action’s Volunteering and Voluntary Sector Awards 2025. This blog shares their stories.
Mykola Kartavtsev: A young volunteer with a big heart
Mykola is just 18 years old, but his story is full of strength, resilience and inspiration. Originally from Ukraine, Mykola and his family fled the war and started a new life in Fife. Since arriving, he has worked tirelessly to adapt — overcoming the challenges of a new country, autism, and language barriers.
He has already earned an impressive set of qualifications and completed a leadership course so he could coach children in sport. He volunteered with Furniture Plus before joining the crew at Greener Kirkcaldy’s Training Garden, where his skills and care shine through.
Mykola first learned to garden helping his late grandfather in Ukraine. He now shares that knowledge with our team. He greets others with a friendly hello and showing his quiet determination to help people and the planet. He honours his grandfather’s legacy in every hour he spends helping in the garden.
Beth Dickson: Leading the way through loss and laughter
Beth’s story is a powerful reminder of how getting active can transform your life — and the lives of others. After losing her husband, her regular walking companion, Beth faced the daunting challenge of continuing to walk alone. Rather than give up, she found strength in joining local walking groups, where she found safety, support and new friendships.
Not from a sporty background, Beth started with short walks just a couple of miles long. Her confidence and stamina have grown and now she regularly enjoys walks of up to eight miles. Today, she leads walks for Greener Kirkcaldy with warmth, care and enthusiasm.
Beth completed accredited Walk Leader training and has since become a vital part of our walking programme. She ensures everyone feels welcome, safe and comfortable with the route and pace. Her walks are known for their creativity — from quizzical strolls to Easter hunts, they always offer something fun and unexpected.
Beth’s walks are among our most popular, regularly attracting 20 walkers and booking up fast. She brings joy, fresh air and laughter to each group. She helps others build confidence and connections through walking.
Mike Earrey: Pedal power at 80!
Mike proves age is no barrier to climate action. Turning 80 this April, Mike has already cycled over 500 miles this year. He regularly volunteers as a cycle ride leader with Greener Kirkcaldy’s Active Travel team.
He’s clocked more than 100 hours of volunteer time, helping to encourage 35 people get active. His vibrant “Mango Bike” is a local icon that he uses to start conversations and inspire others to try cycling — including many who never thought they could.
A lifelong advocate for sustainable travel, Mike previously led community rides in Aberfeldy and helped develop cycling trails with the Highland Perthshire Community Land Trust. His enthusiasm is infectious, his energy tireless, and his commitment remarkable. Mike says, “Just keep going” – and he certainly does!
These are just three of the inspiring volunteers who power our work. We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who volunteers with us!
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