'Great asset' gets warm welcome back to Shopmobility Highland

A vulnerable man who has been a mainstay for a Highland charity is finally back doing the job he loves.

He is known as their “main man” but Richard Davidson was conspicuous by his sorely felt absence at Shopmobility Highland for almost three years.

To the dismay of colleagues, the popular 54-year-old volunteer’s vulnerability to Covid kept him away from the Inverness Eastgate Shopping Centre premises during the pandemic after the best part of two decades’ service.

Now, though, the Scorguie resident has returned to the charity which provides mobility scooters, power chairs and manual equipment for those of all ages with mobility issues.

Norman MacLeod, general manager at Shopmobility Highland, said: “To have Richard back with us is an absolute delight for all the staff who missed having him here so much.

“His volunteering helped build his confidence tremendously and, in turn, he is quite genuinely a great asset to us within the office.

“Richard volunteered five days a week prior to the pandemic, but returns initially for one day a week with a view to increase these days as the year goes on.”

Mr Davidson will be less involved in minibus activities now and more assigned to general office work, keeping morale high among colleagues.

The return to normality has also delighted Mr Davidson, who said he had greatly missed the involvement and interaction with work and colleagues, as well as those individuals the charity assists.

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