Today, something truly remarkable happened — I was honoured to be named Community Link Worker of the Year in Scotland. As I stood there, walking stick in hand, it struck me how far I’ve come. The stick is a reminder that I still live with pain, but it no longer defines me. Years ago, that pain would have knocked me down — and kept me there. Now, instead of giving in, I ask myself, “What do I need to do to keep going?” That’s when I dig deep into my own toolbox — the same one I now help others to build.
When I was referred to a Link Worker myself, I had been medically retired for a decade. I was nearly housebound, living with chronic back pain and feeling like my world had closed in around me. To stand here today, being recognised nationally, feels like the final piece of a long and deeply personal journey. I’ve come full circle.
This experience is why I’m so passionate about the work I do. I know what it’s like to feel lost in the system, to need support and not know where to turn. It’s also why I’ve worked so hard to support the incredible medical team at Craigmillar, making sure patients get the care and attention they truly need — not just what’s on the referral form.
If someone had told me ten years ago that I’d be back at work, I would have laughed. If they’d said I’d be recognised as the Outstanding Link Worker of the Year, I would never have believed them. And yet, here we are. The ripple effect of this moment is real — my family, who walked beside me during my darkest times, are overjoyed. When I phoned my wee dad to share the news, he cried. That moment will stay with me forever.
I’m especially proud to advocate for the “Missingness Lens” — a way of seeing people not as absent, unreliable, or unengaged, but as human beings navigating complex and often painful lives. When someone misses an appointment or turns up late, it shouldn’t be a reason to shut the door on them. Too many services do just that — sending letters of reprimand or quietly writing people off. But real support means being there when someone is finally able to show up. It means saying, “We’re still here. We’re glad you made it.”
That’s the kind of network Link Workers are building — one where everyone is brought into the fold, no matter where they’re starting from. Where people are empowered to live their best lives, even in the worst of circumstances. And I am beyond proud to be a part of that.
To everyone who is still in the thick of it — still digging deep into your own toolbox — I see you. I was you. And today, I’m walking proof of the power of link workers.
Dawn Craig is the winner of the First SCLWN Annual Awards as Outstanding Community Link Worker of the Year. Dawn works for Carr Gomm in Edinburgh.
