You inspire us...

Enid Lodge - UNA Liverpool

Enid, secretary of the UNA Liverpool branch, has been working to engage young people in the UN's work for over two decades. Last year, she organised her 25th Model UN General Assembly event at which students from across Merseyside gathered to debate peace, development and human rights issues. Over the years, some 5,000 students have benefitted from Enid's MUNGAs, gleaning a taste of international diplomacy and learning skills such as research, negotiation and public speaking.

Enid has also initiated a range of projects to foster global citizenship, including visits to the UN in Geneva and a film made by students who travelled from Liverpool to Benin to learn more about the cities' slave trade history. Produced in collaboration with the UK National Commission for UNESCO and Anti-Slavery International, the film is entitled 'Following Equiano' - a freed slave. Click on the image to view it.

Barrie Oxtoby - UNA Shropshire (Church Stretton)

Barrie has been involved with UNA-UK since the late 1980s, first with the Warwick and Leamington branch, and now with Shropshire branch. In his position as Chairman of the branch, Barrie has introduced a number of innovations to raise the profile of the branch, forge partnerships with the wider community, and further the aims of UNA-UK at the local level.

From 2002-06 he spearheaded the Afghanistan Livelihood Appeal, which sent £10,000 to the UN Refugee Agency to support training for Afghan refugees. The project was publicised through 64 colourful newsletters, articles in the local press and New World, and a number of public meetings with excellent speakers.

Barrie has taken care to inspire the wider Shropshire community. He organised a special exhibition to coincide with the opening of a new community centre and produced a film to show the connections of local members to the wider world and issues. He has engaged many local groups in the branch's work, notably the Scouts and the University of the Third Age. Currently, he is carrying out a project to enhance understanding of the UN Millennium Development Goals with a number of local organisations.

Tyna Vayalilkollattu - UNA Youth

Tyna is a fantastic example of 'the next generation' of UNA-UK. She got involved with her university's UNA Youth branch during her first year at Kingston University and now, three years later, she has completed her international law degree and just been elected President of the National UNA Youth Council.

During this time, Tyna has helped the fledgling Kingston UNA Youth branch blossom into one of UNA-UK's most active, diverse and dynamic university groups. She helped to connect the branch to UN agencies working in London, for example, through her involvement as a World Food Programme student ambassador, and by supporting the branch to raise £6,000 for UN relief work in Haiti, following the 2010 earthquake. In her second year, she was elected to be Publicity Officer for the branch, and helped to organise innovative events and campaigns to raise the profile of her branch on campus. As President of the society in her third year, Tyna worked with UNA Westminster branch to host one of the screenings of the popular 'We the Peoples' film festivals and organised a major two-day conference on the UN Millennium Development Goals. She has also helped to nurture Kingston's strong Model UN delegation.

Over the past few months, Tyna has been volunteering at the UNA-UK offices as a Programme Development Intern. Her support has been invaluable and she has contributed to a number of UNA-UK projects, including Model UN development and improving the effectiveness of national UNA Youth activities.

Charles Reid - UNA Edinburgh

In 2010, the UNA-UK Board of Directors was delighted to present Charles with the UNA-UK Award for Distinguished Service, following his unanimous nomination by the UNA Edinburgh branch committee.

Charles is the perfect example of a branch 'lynch pin' - someone who works tirelessly both in the limelight and behind the scenes to ensure that the branch flourishes. He has served UNA Edinburgh in many ways and roles for some 45 years, and he continues to do so despite the onset of health and mobility issues. Having joined the 'youth section' of UNA Edinburgh in 1964, Charles graduated to the 'senior' branch in 1970. Shortly thereafter, he was elected to the branch committee. As Chairman and Convenor from1979-1982, and again from 1998-2000, he built up the branch to its present membership of over a hundred members. In his capacity as Treasurer, he stewarded the branch's income so well that it has been able to be active on a whole range of UNA-UK and UN issues. Recent activities have included two major conferences at the Scottish Parliament on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.

Charles was also instrumental in establishing UNA Scotland, on which he currently serves as Deputy Convenor. Whenever there has been a UN-related activity in Scotland, Charles has quietly taken it up, provided it with a sound foundation, and ensured that it flourished. Examples are the annual UN Day Service at the High Kirk of St Giles, involving some of the Edinburgh diplomatic corps; the founding of NIDOS - the National Association of International Development Organisations in Scotland; and the establishment of the Cross-Party Group on International Development, the largest Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament.

Underpinning his long and devoted service, Charles' encyclopaedic memory of UNA Edinburgh's past often proves invaluable: he continues to keep in touch with former members. Perhaps the most notable feature of his long and devoted service is his gentle amiability and dignified reliable leadership which endear him to everyone.

David Wardrop - UNA Westminster

David has served UNA-UK for many decades in numerous capacities. No list of inspiring UNA-UK members would be complete without mentioning him. 

As Chair of Westminster branch, David has worked tirelessly to raise the profile of UNA-UK and to support the UN's work through a range of outstanding events. Highlights include the annual 'We the Peoples' Film Festival - one of the most popular events on the UNA calendar; a yearly international law lecture held in association with the School of Oriental and African Studies and the Bar Council; and a major annual conference at the Royal United Services Institute to mark the International Day for UN Peacekeepers, which is followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph. This year, the Peacekeepers Day conference featured a keynote speech by Alain Le Roy, UN Under-Secretary-General for UN Peacekeeping Operations.

David is also involved in a number of high-profile activities organised by the London & Southeast Region of UNA. He has served on the Region's Executive Committee for many years and played a key role in organising the Region's 2009 conference on climate change at the International Maritime Organization.

In addition to his involvement with UNA-UK, David is also a keen supporter of the UK National Commission for UNESCO and has been the driving force behind many civil society initiatives, such as the G18 Somalia diaspora network.