Prevention or relief of poverty and relief of those in need
We work with many well-known charities in the UK here at ScottishPower, as is evident through the ScottishPower Foundation 2015 poverty, disability and disadvantage projects listed below. For similar projects undertaken at an earlier date, take a look at the ScottishPower Foundation 2014 poverty, disability and disadvantage projects page.
Venture Scotland
Venture Scotland supports disadvantaged young people aged 16 to 30 living in Scotland. It’s aim is to address the complex and multiple needs of vulnerable young people and to support them to move into a positive destination of employment, training, education or volunteering.
Funding will support their individualised and flexible outdoors-based personal development programme, The Journey. By combining wilderness expeditions with city-based activities, The Journey focusses on enabling young people to make real and sustainable changes to their lives.
Music in Hospitals Scotland
Music in Hospitals aims to improve the quality of life for people of all ages with all kinds of disabilities and illnesses in long term care throughout the UK. The work of its musicians provides valuable opportunities for people in care and their families to participate in and enjoy a communal social occasion. With the support of care staff and family, audience members are encouraged to join in, to request favourite songs, to use different instruments and to participate in whichever way feels most natural.
ScottishPower Foundation Songs – Live music for Scotland’s healthcare units aims to provide 50 professional live concerts for people of all ages in hospitals, care homes, hospices, hospices, day centres and special needs schools throughout Scotland free of charge.
The Outward Bound Trust
The Outward Bound Trust is an educational charity that uses the outdoors to help develop young people from all walks of life. It runs adventurous and challenging outdoor learning programmes that equip young people with valuable skills for education, work and life. The Trust helps them become more confident, more effective and more capable at school, college and in the workplace.
Funding will support year two of the Skills for Scotland’s Future project, enabling The Trust to build on the relationships established with schools and communities in the first year and to develop the programme to increase the impact it has on the participants and their school communities.
Northern Lights
Northern Lights raises funds to give children with life limiting diseases the unique experience of a very special holiday they will never forget to Lapland to meet Father Christmas. During their trip the children enjoy new experiences and make new friends, helping them to rebuild confidence and self-esteem.
Funding will help the charity to take between 16-20 children on this holiday of a lifetime, supported by medical and adult helpers.
Royal National Institute of Blind People
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is the UK’s leading sight loss charity, its mission is to make every day better for everyone affected by sight loss: being there when people need them, supporting independent living, creating an inclusive society and preventing sight loss.
Funding will support RNIB’s Pre Employment Programme which is designed to help blind and partially sighted people who are currently out of work. The Pre-Employment Programme equips blind and partially sighted people with the skills and knowledge to complete an application process, and to make it less daunting. The programme comprises of 15 diverse and challenging modules and will be delivered across Scotland and England.
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Countryside Trust
The Loch Lomond and The Trossachs Countryside Trust aims to be an effective mechanism to conserve and improve the landscape and ecology of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, and to enhance the visitor experience of its countryside.
Funding will again support the ‘Walk in the Park’ project; a programme of health walks and other health and wellbeing activities which take place across the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. This project not only helps improve people’s quality of life but also encourages them to get outside and engage with the natural environments of the National Park. The project focuses on overcoming barriers, particularly supporting those who have ill-health, a disability or are disadvantaged through deprivation, fear or isolation.
Scottish Huntington's Association
Scottish Huntington’s Association exists to improve the quality of life of people living with Huntington’s disease, a devastating neurodegenerative genetic disorder that causes profound physical disability, deterioration in cognitive function and severe mental ill-health.
Funding will support the second stage of its Wellbeing Volunteer Service which was developed in response to the needs of families living with Huntington’s disease, allowing them to further develop the service and expand the project to the East of Scotland, recruiting additional volunteers.
O Ddrws i Ddrws
Ddrws i Ddrws (Door to Door) provides affordable transport for the most vulnerable members of society in remote communities of Lleyn, North Wales, enabling them to access necessary services such as health appointments, shopping, banking and visiting relatives and friends. The service aims to reduce social isolation amongst elderly citizens and promote wellbeing.
Funding will enable them to proceed with the extension of the Coastal Bus Service; to provide more routes on more days.
The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice
The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice exists to help patients achieve the best quality of life possible in whatever time remains for them. Every year it cares for over 1,200 patients and their families and the total focus of Hospice staff is to give the highest quality of care to everyone who needs their help. The hospice also offers practical and emotional support to families and carers.
Funding will support the development of a brand new purpose built Hospice for the people of Glasgow, which will enhance current services and also allow the age limit to be lowered to those aged 15 and above, allowing it to be the first Hospice in Scotland that will transition young people from children’s to adult hospice services.
Erskine
Erskine has been looking after veterans for almost 100 years and is the leading care organisation for ex-Service men and women in Scotland.
Funding will enable the provision of an enhanced recreation facility at the Erskine Glasgow Home which will have a direct, positive impact the residents’ quality of daily life and allow them to achieve a full and meaningful social life. This will enhance the care service provided in the home for the benefit of all current and future elderly and disabled residents, for decades to come.