Charities across the country split prize fund awarded for work to transform communities
Three charities with bases in Scotland have been named among the winners and runners-up of this year’s ScottishPower Foundation Awards, taking home their share of a £30,000 prize fund.
The Awards celebrate benevolent work in local communities throughout the UK, with organisations judged in four categories for the Innovation Award, the Education Award, the Community Engagement Award and the Charity Champion Award, which gives special recognition to the outstanding contribution made by an exceptional employee or volunteer who exemplifies what their organisation stands for.
Winners in each category receive an additional £5,000 funding boost, with runners-up receiving £2,500.
The Education Award was won by Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland, based in Glasgow, for its work to help children with spina bifida and hydrocephalus be fully included in education and the learning experience.
The judges recognised the charity’s work to support each child individually and to tailor its support to their bespoke needs. For example, it worked with partner organisations to ensure one child who required crutches to get around was able to fully participate in sporting activities at his school.
The charity was also praised for its work to celebrate what makes the children it supports unique and ensure they all have the best possible start in life.
Donna Mackey, from The Sporting Memories Foundation Scotland, based in East Lothian, was crowned the Charity Champion for her work with isolated older people during the pandemic.
Donna mapped out bespoke exercise programmes that were originally to be carried out in person, but due to the virus had to be taken online through Zoom meetings. Donna single-handedly produced videos to encourage members to carry out physical activities at home.
As well as this, she created a new ‘Keep in Touch’ bag, which contained physical equipment to help people participate and DVDs of exercises for those who don’t have access to online video calls. The judges noted Donna’s ability to adapt to what was needed and tailor her work to individuals, putting on quizzes or catch-up chats for those who didn’t want to participate in exercise.
Lucy Abbeels, 12, from Edinburgh, was named runner-up in the Charity Champion category for raising over £6,000 for Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland while receiving ongoing support from the charity herself.
Lucy’s fundraising journey began with the Cumbernauld Victory Mile in 2012. Since then, she has completed numerous Kiltwalks – “go Team Lucy!” Even lockdown couldn’t stop her; in May, Lucy took part in the 2.6 Challenge, raising £1,000 for the charity.
Starcatchers Productions was named runner-up in the Community Engagement Award category for supporting families who are most negatively impacted by the pandemic and more likely to experience greater levels of isolation.
The charity set up a menu of digital creative play activities and helped deliver over 2,000 creative play parcels for families living in poverty.
Melanie Hill, Executive Officer and Trustee of the ScottishPower Foundation, said: “Huge congratulations to the winners and runners-up of this year’s ScottishPower Foundation Awards, who are all real beacons of light in these challenging times. We’re so proud of their achievements and pleased to further recognise their tremendous efforts to change lives for the better.
“What’s especially pleasing is the wide range of activities and support services these Awards celebrate – whether keeping older people connected, supporting disabled young people to live full and fulfilling lives, providing key support to children affected by domestic abuse, or taking a whole community approach to addressing homelessness and hardship. However, the one thing they all have in common is the incredible difference they make to the lives of others.
“We’re honoured to recognise all our winners, runners-up and finalists who bring the values of the ScottishPower Foundation Awards to life every day.”
The awards are open to recipients of this year’s ScottishPower Foundation funding, which saw £1.2m awarded to 21 charities delivering projects across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Due to social distancing restrictions, the winners were announced on ScottishPower’s Twitter channel – @ScottishPower.
This year’s judging panel was made up of a host of experts from ScottishPower, the third sector, education and communications including Arthur McIvor, Senior Client Manager for Energy & Utility Skills; Juliet Simpson, Founder and CEO of Stripe Communications; Sheila Duncan, Human Resources Director for ScottishPower; and Melanie Hill, Executive Officer and Trustee of the ScottishPower Foundation.
The ScottishPower Foundation was established in 2013 to make a significant and lasting contribution to society, enhancing the lives of people living in communities throughout the UK. It provides funding to help support the advancement of education, environmental protection, arts and culture and citizenship. It also supports charities who aim to provide relief from poverty, disability, or other disadvantages.
The winners and runners up this year are outlined below:
Innovation Award
WINNER – Acorns Project
Based in North Tyneside and Northumberland, the Acorns Project offers a range of services to support families affected by domestic abuse such as counselling, first response and adult support services.
RUNNER-UP – Whizz-Kidz
Whizz-Kidz aims to transform the lives of disabled children across the UK, supporting them to become confident and independent young adults by providing the equipment, support, and life skills they need in order to develop their full potential.
Education Award
WINNER – Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland
RUNNER-UP – Bangor University (Reaching Wider North and Mid Wales Partnership)
Bangor University (Reaching Wider North and Mid Wales Partnership) works alongside primary and secondary school pupils as well as adults with no formal qualifications to increase higher education participation among lower socio-economic groups.
Community Engagement Award
WINNER – South Tyneside Churches KEY Project
South Tyneside Churches KEY Project works with young people and their families to help develop the skills they need to live independently, become good citizens, and reach their full potential.
RUNNER-UP – Starcatchers Productions Ltd
Starcatchers is Scotland’s National Arts and Early Years organisation specialising in creating performances and exploring creative activity for babies, toddlers and young children aged 0-5 and the adults who care for them.
Charity Champion Award
WINNER – Donna Mackey The Sporting Memories Foundation Scotland
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Donna sprang to action to ensure that support for the elderly participants, many of whom living with long-term conditions such as dementia and depression, would continue. Donna set up weekly Zoom session and single-handedly produced exercise videos featuring her own grandmother for the participants to follow at home. Sporting Memories Foundation tackles dementia, depression, and loneliness through the power of sports reminiscence by bringing together older adults, as well as providing social and physical activities.
RUNNER-UP – Lucy Abbeels, Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland
Lucy has been raising money for Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland since she was 4 years old, and to-date has raised over £6000 while receiving support from the charity herself. Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotlandseeks to increase public awareness and understanding of individuals with spina bifida, hydrocephalus and allied conditions. It aims to support all those affected to identify their needs and to empower them to make informed choices and decisions.