We are pleased to announce the shortlist for the ScottishPower Foundation Awards 2023.
Community Engagement Award
Community Engagement Award
Recognises the work of charities who have made a positive impact to both their immediate target group and the wider community, working in partnership to enact long-lasting change.
Durham Wildlife Trust – For 50 years, Durham Wildlife Trust has been working to protect, enhance and promote wildlife and nature conservation in South Tyneside, Sunderland, Darlington, Gateshead and County Durham. The Trust’s work in managing nature reserves, running conservation projects, delivering environmental education activities and providing thousands of volunteering opportunities each year has delivered long-lasting change to the environment and local communities and earned a place in the shortlist.
Edinburgh Science Foundation – Edinburgh Science Foundation makes the shortlist for its ‘A Future Without Waste’ workshops. In partnership with LEGO Build the Change the workshops, available through the Edinburgh Science Festival, allowed children to learn about the circular economy and to imagine a future without waste. The Community Programme invited schoolchildren from high SIMD areas to enjoy the festival for free before it opened to the public.
Sands – Shortlisted in celebration of the Hospital Liaison Volunteer teams who work across England and Scotland to signpost healthcare professionals and bereaved parents to Sands’ resources following baby loss. Hospital Liaison Volunteers are the linchpin connecting Sands to hospitals and local communities.
Scottish Wildlife Trust – The Action for Nature in Ayrshire project is shortlisted for bringing volunteering conservation groups together on a weekly basis for activities such as tree-planting, wildlife surveying and improving footpaths for others to enjoy. The project team works with a whole host of community groups like Men’s Sheds and Ayrshire Food Hub, helping them to deliver vital change for local communities through connection to nature.
Stable Life – Shortlisted for its support of young people aged 10 -18 years in the Scottish Borders on a referral basis. The young people are generally experiencing social, emotional and/or behavioural issues. A young person’s circumstances and related behaviour can often push them to feel isolated or excluded from their school and community – Stable Life works to break this cycle through a model of Equine Assisted Learning.
Education Award
Education Award
Recognises the exceptional efforts of charities who are working to encourage learning and education in all its forms. The winning project will clearly demonstrate how they are raising aspirations, promoting inclusion and broadening horizons.
Edinburgh Science Foundation – For the Generation Science programme- the largest science education outreach programme in Scotland- which goes beyond traditional teaching methods and incorporates hands-on experiments, interactive demonstrations, and real-world applications to engage students and foster a deeper understanding of scientific concepts. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the charity redeveloped the programme, in consultation with teachers, to ensure they were still able to reach pupils with new recorded workshops and bespoke science kits. Returning to face-to-face delivery in 2023, the programme has reached the milestone of engaging over one million children across Scotland.
Glasgow Science Centre – In recognition of the Climate Café series, which offers a safe and judgement-free environment where adults can engage in meaningful discussions and learn about climate change in a personalised and interactive manner. The Climate Café recognises that climate change affects different communities in unique ways and embraces this diversity. The programme encourages individuals from various backgrounds and experiences to join, ensuring that their voices are heard and that their perspectives are valued.
Sands – For their specialist Bereavement in the Workspace training, which has already reached 500,000 employees throughout the UK. The training was designed to enable employers to facilitate the needs of parents and colleagues following a return to work after the loss of a baby. Having launched the SME Grant Scheme in 2023, Sands now offers the training to small businesses for free, with medium-sized enterprises benefitting from a 20% discount.
Smart Works Scotland – In recognition of their Employability project, which supports young women and care leavers to access and progress in employment by directing them to Smart Works services. Individuals can access career coaching to help them secure an interview and attend a First-Dressing where they gain a complete interview outfit and tailored interview coaching with an experienced volunteer HR professional.
Stable Life – For their support of vulnerable young people, aged 10 -18 years, through a model of Equine Assisted Learning. Through teaching respect and care for the animals, the young people are empowered to achieve their own personal goals. The charity also offers a SQA qualification in Horse Care which can be a huge personal boost for someone who may have struggled in the past in a traditional classroom environment.
Innovation Award
Innovation Award
Celebrates projects that address a community need in a unique and innovative way. The winner will show resilience and ingenuity to overcome a problem, welcome new ideas and think out-of-the-box to find inventive solutions.
Aspire – For the Aspire Housing Programme, a unique and well-established programme delivered across the UK, which provides temporary accommodation for individuals who don’t have an accessible home to return to following spinal injury. The charity also offers expert housing advice and support and works with NHS Spinal Cord Injury Centres to ensure those who need it can access correct guidance and support to be independent.
Dads Unlimited - Dads Unlimited is a charity which supports the emotional safety of men - and those they care about - through three key areas: supporting male victims of domestic abuse, supporting men with family separation, and supporting men’s mental health. All services use an evidence-based, trauma-informed, person-centred approach.
Leeds Culture Trust – For their contribution to The WOW (Women of the World) Barn, created to break down the barriers that women and non-binary individuals face when contemplating a career in construction. During the programme, participants built and raised a barn over 24 hours in an act of taking up space in the city. The WOW Barn has since been a space for women, girls and non-binary people in West Yorkshire, with a world class live events programme for stories, workshops, actions and discussions.
Smart Works Scotland – In recognition of the Smart Works Virtual Service, which launched in 2020 in response to the restrictions of the pandemic. Covid restrictions put a stop to the face-to-face dressing and coaching service at a time when demand for the service was up, due to higher redundancies and less vacancies. Industries employing large numbers of women - such as retail and hospitality - were disproportionately impacted. As a solution, Smart Works launched a virtual service that allowed unemployed women to continue to access support ahead of their job interviews.
Volunteer Tutors Organisation – For their covid-response, which saw a transition from one-to-one, in-person tutoring to online provision. The move to online tutoring has allowed the charity to continue supporting those families who need it most; volunteers can now be recruited from much further afield, which has resulted in a wider demographic and pool of volunteers, increasing tutor diversity and skills base. To combat inequality of access to technical equipment, VTO provides pupils with access to laptops, tablets and drawing tablets, also responding to individual needs of any pupil with additional needs that can be addressed with appropriate technology.
Charity Champion Award
Charity Champion Award
Awarded to an outstanding individual who has gone the extra mile to help a charity achieve its goals. The ScottishPower Foundation Charity Champion exemplifies what the organisation stands for and strives to inspire, support, and motivate.
Dance Base – The Dance for Parkinson's Scotland programme is a vital project of support for people living with Parkinson’s and their families, friends, and carers. The charity has nominated two volunteers - Kay and Jacqueline - who first attended the group with their husbands and quickly became embedded in the flourishing community. Sadly, both Kay and Jacqueline's partners passed away, however, both women decided that they wanted to give back to the community who gave them so much support and care by volunteering. As volunteers, they have become instrumental in the smooth running of classes and their vast knowledge and lived experience mean they can offer the best possible support to dancers who are living with Parkinson's.
Glasgow Science Centre – Sheena McDonald, the Community Learning Coordinator has been nominated for her exceptional dedication, compassion, and commitment to the communities served by Glasgow Science Centre. Sheena is an extraordinary individual whose caring and passionate nature shines through in everything she does. She genuinely cares deeply about the well-being and development of the communities she works with, going above and beyond to ensure inclusivity, kindness, and compassion are at the forefront of GSC’s work. One remarkable example of Sheena's impact is her exceptional support for a young autistic course participant. Through her guidance and encouragement, this individual not only gained confidence but also blossomed into a dedicated volunteer and eventually a valued staff member.
Sands - Sands has nominated Peter Byrom who has been volunteering for the charity since 2018. He joined the committee of Bristol Sands in 2019 but quickly realised that not many men were attending the local support group meetings. In response, Pete founded Sands United FC Bristol. As father to Thomas, who was stillborn in 2004, Pete knew first-hand how isolating it can feel for men following baby loss, and how societal expectations of fathers can lead them to feel they need to be the 'strong, stoic one'. Sands United is a way for men to come together through a shared love of sport, find a support network, and feel more at ease talking about their grief. Sands United Bristol football team is now a hub for many dads, brothers, uncles, and others who have been through the same experience to get together and enjoy football whilst remembering their special babies.
Smart Works Scotland – The staff, volunteers and trustees at Smart Works have nominated Bronagh Power, their longest-serving trustee. Bronagh co-wrote the business plan for the charity’s expansion into Glasgow, leading to record results. Bronagh is a dedicated fundraiser, engaging her professional network to the charity’s cause and has led the Smart Works cycle team 4 years in a row in the week of International Women’s Day, smashing her sponsorship targets and clocking up 400 miles. Bronagh is always hands-on in her commitment to Smart Works and leads by example in the way she empowers women to shine. She is not only a trustee, but also a volunteer dresser and has wonderful rapport with clients who appreciate her warmth and compassion.
Volunteer Tutors Organisation – David Kirkwood, volunteer tutor and trustee has been nominated for his dedication to the charity. Since joining VTO, David has exceeded expectations and is currently tutoring 3 pupils; two of whom have recently obtained their national 5 qualification in Maths, which would not have been possible without David's support. He personifies VTO's values and exemplifies what the organisation stands for every day as he strives to support as many young people as he possibly can. David demonstrated his commitment further when he applied to join the VTO board of trustees, and he now contributes his knowledge and experience in education and from his 2 years as a VTO volunteer to help shape the direction and strategy of the organisation.