A new charitable foundation from ScottishPower, established to reinforce the energy company’s commitment to charitable work throughout Britain, was launched in Glasgow today (Tuesday 18 June).

The ScottishPower Foundation’s aim is to make a significant and lasting contribution to society and enhance the quality of life in local communities.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Professor Sir Jim McDonald, said: “ScottishPower has a strong track record of supporting good causes and the establishment of an independent ScottishPower Foundation is a significant next step. I look forward to supporting many more projects which benefit our communities across Scotland, England and Wales.”

For the last three years, Fundacion Iberdrola has supported the majority of ScottishPower’s community sponsorships resulting in almost £2.5m being invested in arts and culture, energy and sustainability and social inclusion. For example, last year the Foundation helped almost 600 young people in Glasgow and Merseyside achieve their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award and to date 30 scholarships have been awarded to students in universities across Britain.

The new Foundation, which was recently awarded official charity status by the Office of Scottish Charities Regulator (OSCR), will provide funds to support charitable initiatives that promote the advancement of education, environmental protection, citizenship and community development, arts, culture and science as well as the prevention of poverty or disadvantage.

The ScottishPower Foundation was launched by Glasgow schoolchildren from four of the schools which will be taking part in Children’s University Scotland - the first project to be awarded funding (£50,000) from the ScottishPower Foundation.

A new education initiative for Scotland, Children’s University has already proven highly successful elsewhere in the UK, not to mention overseas; raising aspirations, boosting achievement and fostering a love of learning amongst 7-14 year olds. The programme enables young people to make the most of their abilities and interests, regardless of the background into which they were born, and positively influences future life choices.

Glasgow Children’s University is the first centre to launch in Scotland, managed by Strathclyde University, and learning activities will begin in August to coincide with the new school year.

The ScottishPower Foundation’s Board of Trustees comprises: Mike Thornton (Director, Energy Saving Trust Scotland), Professor Sir Jim McDonald (Principal & Vice Chancellor, University of Strathclyde), Elaine Bowker (Principal, Liverpool Community College), Keith Anderson (Chief Corporate Officer, ScottishPower & Chief Executive Officer, ScottishPower Renewables) and Ann Loughrey (Head of CSR, ScottishPower).

For more information about the Foundation, please email scottishpowerfoundation@scottishpower.com. A dedicated ScottishPower Foundation website will be launched soon.

For further information please contact Stuart Martin at Stripe Communications on 0131 561 8620, 07540 372528 or email scottishpower@stripecommunications.com

Notes to editors:

• Children’s University Scotland aims to have a presence in at least 80% of all Scottish local authorities within five years; targeting both rural and urban communities



• Three local Children’s Universities have been established in Scotland to date: Glasgow Children’s University, in partnership with the University of Strathclyde and Musselburgh Children’s University (East Lothian) and Mayfield Children’s University (West Lothian) - the latter two in partnership with Queen Margaret University.



• Glasgow Children’s University is managed by University of Strathclyde, the Times Higher Education UK University of Year 2012/13, and works in close partnership with Glasgow City Council’s Education Team. Not only is Strathclyde co-ordinating the programme but different departments within the university are developing specially-tailored learning activities for children to participate in e.g. forensic science workshops



• The schools participating in today’s photocall are Middlefield School, St Mungo’s Academy, John Paul II Primary and Castleton Primary; each school represents one of the four learning communities (Smithycroft, St Mungo’s, Castlemilk and St Margaret Mary’s) which will be participating in year one of the programme.  From year two onwards, Glasgow Children’s University will be open to all schools in the city: Additional Support for Learning schools, primaries and secondaries.



• Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum is one of the first public learning destinations to be validated in Glasgow and will provide an exciting programme of learning opportunities throughout the year



• Glasgow CU’s first graduation ceremony is scheduled for Feb 2014 and will be held at the University of Strathclyde.

For more information on Children’s University, please contact Caroline Gilbert at caroline.gilbert@childrensuniversity.co.uk