A kind-hearted Edinburgh Council worker has put a smile on the faces of local residents after decorating the foyer of several high-rise buildings in the capital ahead of Christmas.
Billy McGhee has worked as a concierge officer for 35 years and has gone out of his way to provide some festive spirit this year during the cost of living crisis which has seen locals cut down on the amount they spend on decorations.
Both the Lochview Court and Holyrood high-rise blocks have had their foyer turned into a makeshift Santa's grotto for the 400+ people that live there, with lights, tinsel and even inflatable Santa's being sourced by Billy from local landfill sites.
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Billy has contributed his time to make residents smile this Christmas and said that his work has been well received throughout different buildings, with locals also donating spare decorations for him to use.
He said: "I wanted to give something back and what better time than Christmas? I’ve always loved this time of year so thought it would be a good idea to decorate the foyers.
"I’ve done this for many years now and it has just kind of grown every year, I’ve donated a lot of the items myself, other items have been donated from residents or saved from landfill.
When asked how his efforts have been received so far, he added: "They all seem to love it and really appreciate it. People always ask me at the beginning of December “when are the decorations going up?"
Billy said that the decorations have put a smile on the faces of children in each block and has also cheered up the elderly residents who live on their own.
He continued: "We have a lot of families living in the building with some having relatives that live thousands of miles away, it’s great to see them taking pictures and knowing that these have been sent to loved ones and family in different parts of the world.
"It can be a lonely time for some of our residents at Christmas so it’s great to see them interact in the foyer, chatting and connecting."
Aside from making people smile around Christmas time, Billy's typical job is to make sure each building is clean and safe for residents and visitors, which includes carrying out repairs and pointing people in the right direction.
He said: "My typical day involves making sure the building is clean and safe for residents and visitors, I do have a daily routine but I learned very quickly in this role (35yrs ago) that you need to be flexible in your approach to how you manage your day as there is always something that requires attention or a resident or colleague that needs assistance.
"This could be anything from assisting residents with day-to-day repairs or sign posting to more specific services depending on their needs, to working with colleagues from other teams and departments to assist with more complex issues or cases.
"I think the most challenging part of my role is working with people that are reluctant to ask for or accept help or those that are less considerate towards their neighbours or community. In these instances I’m fortunate to have a good team around me with years of experience to draw on so that in most cases it allows us make a connection and ultimately help.
"I see a majority of residents on a daily basis and always stop to say hello, they really appreciate the time even if it is only for a few moments. I think the most rewarding part of my role is being able to help people. Doing something to help however small can make a huge difference to someone’s wellbeing and their quality of life.
Billy added that he is always on the lookout for extra tinsel, so if anybody nearby has some to spare, they can pop it in to Lochview Court by pressing the green buzzer.
Councillor Jane Meagher, the Council’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: "Council concierges have one of the most rewarding and challenging roles in housing, making sure our multi-storey blocks are kept safe and clean and often acting as the first port of call for tenants’ needs. Whether they are helping a family with a complex issue they have at home or providing a friendly hello to people who live alone, concierges really do provide an invaluable service which too often goes unnoticed.
"Billy is a fantastic example of one of our unsung heroes. Here we have someone who is going out of his way to bring a smile to tenants’ faces, sourcing his own decorations to create Christmas cheer and a real sense of community, not because it’s his job but because he simply wants to.
"Christmas isn’t always an easy time of year, and a lot of people are facing financial challenges, particularly this winter - which may mean Billy’s decorations are the only Christmas lights some households have this year. Thank you, Billy, for bringing the festivities to everyone’s front door."
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