The ScottishPower Foundation has announced this year’s recipients of its annual award fund. Twenty-five charities from across the UK will share in the £1.25 million pot to help them make a positive difference to people’s lives in many diverse communities.

Funded activity planned for this year includes a United Nations-style climate change awareness and action initiative in Wales, a support group for autistic young people with feelings of isolation in Scotland, a musical development course for young carers in England and a UK national roadshow that promotes equal opportunities for deaf children and young people.

Mike Thornton, Chairman of the ScottishPower Foundation, said: "Each year it’s incredible to see the applications received from projects across Britain that are making a life-changing difference to people in their communities. We’re so pleased to announce this year’s funding package for 25 projects, which are all doing incredible work to make a real difference to their communities and the people living in them."

Phillipa Quinn, Fundraising Officer for one of this year’s funded charities, Hearts & Minds, said: “Hearts & Minds is a charity that relies on funding to help us reach the people who need us most. The donation from the ScottishPower Foundation will extend the reach of our Clowndoctors programme – a therapeutic initiative that encourages interaction and communication among vulnerable young people in specialised educational and healthcare settings. We can’t thank them enough for this donation."

The ScottishPower Foundation was established in 2013 with the aim of making a significant and lasting contribution to society, enhancing the lives of people living in communities throughout the UK. It provides funding to registered charities which are involved in the advancement of education, environmental protection, citizenship and community development, science, the arts, heritage or culture as well as the prevention of poverty and relief of disability or other disadvantages.

This year’s funding recipients of include:

The funding total also covers an awards ceremony hosted by the ScottishPower Foundation, which gives this year’s selected projects the opportunity to receive a further boost to funding for a specific initiative.

For further information please contact Alex Crate or Kathryn Wilkie at Stripe Communications on 0131 561 8628. You can also email the team at spfoundation@stripecommunications.com  

Notes to editors: 

About the ScottishPower Foundation

The ScottishPower Foundation is a registered Scottish charity (SC043862) and a company limited by guarantee (SC445116). The Foundation’s aim is to make a significant and lasting contribution to society and enhance the quality of life in local communities. It provides funding to registered charities and non-profit organisations for the following purposes: the advancement of education; the advancement of environmental protection; the advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science; the prevention or relief of poverty and the relief of those in need by reason of disability or other disadvantage; the advancement of citizenship and community development.