Gordon Nisbet: Inspirational Volunteer of the Year 2024

Greener Kirkcaldy volunteer Gordon Nisbet was named Inspirational Volunteer of the Year in this year’s Fife Voluntary Action Volunteering Awards. He shared his story with our Media Volunteer Anne Fraser.

Gordon first came across Greener Kirkcaldy as a customer, collecting his weekly veg box from the High Steet Hub before Covid-19. After getting to know staff, and once things had opened up again after the pandemic, he joined the team of community food volunteers. He helped at The Lang Toun Larder community pantry and with weekly community meals on a Wednesday, which he continues to do.

Getting to know staff before starting to volunteer made it easier for Gordon, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder, to feel comfortable. He already knew that they would be understanding of him: “They knew that you had those wee quirks.”

Prior to Covid he had volunteered at the Marie Curie charity shop on the High Street. After the pandemic Gordon was looking to get out of the house and into the world again.

“With the autism you’ve got to keep using the small skills. You lose it and then you start losing that communication skill and going further back the way and end up being stuck in the house. You’ve got to keep on working at it and working at it [otherwise] you can lose that skill altogether.”

He says it can take a bit longer for him to learn things but that once he knows something, he really knows it.

“I have problems with my short-term memory but I’m great with long term. Once it’s there it sticks.”

Gordon loves watching documentaries and says that facts stay easily in his head. He loves building jigsaws and doing Sudoku puzzles and finds completing them effortless. Certain things come naturally to him, while others are very challenging.

Successfully gaining qualifications

A late diagnosis of high functioning autism, which is sometimes referred to as Aspergers, at 15 and a half meant that Gordon had no support at school. He struggled and left with no qualifications. But despite this, at college a few years later Gordon was one of only five in his year to complete an  HND in electrical engineering (out of the 350 students who started the initial HNC course.)

During the course, lecturers said that he picked up on small faults and repairs even they hadn’t noticed. He was bright and did well on his course and, also, needed some support; but getting the right support, as he has found throughout his life, is tricky.

At 11, Gordon had a reading age of 4 or 5. He wanted to learn, but dyslexia made reading difficult. One teacher realised that he enjoyed listening to stories and tested his understanding using audiobooks, finding that his comprehension age was actually higher than his birth age. Unfortunately, most teachers were not as helpful.

“I was classed as disruptive because I couldn’t read. I got told: You’re unteachable. I turned round and proved them wrong.”

He feels rightly proud that he made it to college and built up his qualifications there. While he was a college student, he saw one of his old teachers who heard what he had managed to achieve. She said she would go back to school and tell her pupils Gordon’s story.

Supporting others and raising awareness of the challenges faced by those with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

He wants to make sure that others facing similar challenges have a different experience. At college, Gordon spent time studying the Disability Act and learning about his own diagnosis. He was then able to share this knowledge, attending meetings at college with other students and forming a support group to help each other and raise awareness of students’ needs.

He feels things have changed since he was at college but that there is still not enough autism training. When he was younger some professionals thought his autism was a mental illness that could be corrected. He has always wanted to help others who face the same issues, to encourage them to aim higher for themselves by being a positive role model.

“Don’t see your disability as a barrier. It just takes one person to say that it’s achievable.”

Sadly, the high of gaining his diploma was followed by a low when he struggled to find a job in his chosen field. He considered doing alternative courses but no further funding was available.

He was then involved with a variety of projects and groups but, as someone who has always been told he looks ‘too normal’, it was difficult to find the right fit.

“I didn’t fit in either category. I got told I was too normal for disabled groups and too vulnerable for ‘normal’ groups.”

Finding the right fit and a supportive community

Greener Kirkcaldy has allowed Gordon to utilise his skills and abilities in a supportive environment. He says you can learn in your own time and there’s a relaxed approach: “You can get your breathing space if you need it.”

“There are other people with disabilities and it seems… ‘normal’ isn’t the right word. It’s not seen as a negative. It’s not seen as a positive. There’s no distinction like in other places and no pressure. There’s no pressure to do it all on your own. There’s always someone willing to help you.”

Often that person who is willing to help is Gordon himself. He recently added volunteering as an Energy Champion to let people know about Cosy Kingdom and the energy advice that they can offer. This is a great match for his naturally helpful nature.

Anne Fraser, Media Volunteer

Inspired by Gordon’s story? Find out more about volunteering with Greener Kirkcaldy.