Vote for your favourite Scottish Charity Awards finalist!
Run annually by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), the Scottish Charity Awards celebrate the best of Scotland’s voluntary sector.
This year’s shortlist includes 32 individuals and organisations from charities and voluntary groups across the country. While a judging panel will determine the winners under nine distinct categories, members of the public can have their say by voting for their favourite overall entry in the People’s Choice Award – by visiting scvo.scot/vote – before 5pm on Wednesday 24 May 2023.
There are eight Edinburgh-based organisation and individual finalists:
Capability Scotland (Pioneering Project)
Children’s Hospices Across Scotland – Charlie Leavy (Employee of the Year)
Fresh Start Scotland (Community Action)
Edinburgh Science (Climate Conscious)
YouthLink Scotland (Climate Conscious)
Brain Health Scotland – My Amazing Brain (Campaign of the Year)
Feniks – Shed Your Armour, Show the Scars (Campaign of the Year)
RSABI – David Leggatt MBE (Trustee of the Year)
Winners will be announced on 23 June 2023 in a celebratory awards ceremony hosted by broadcaster Sally Magnusson at the Sheraton Hotel, Edinburgh.
Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive, SCVO said: “The Scottish Charity Awards are a fabulous opportunity to celebrate the exceptional individuals and groups within our vibrant sector.
“This year’s record-breaking number of nominations underlines the strength of Scotland’s voluntary sector, and the crucial work that we see from charities and voluntary organisations across the country. The hard work and dedication of people and organisations like these 32 finalists are making Scotland a better place to live and work.
“There is still a chance to have your own voice heard by voting in the People’s Choice Award. Don’t be late – participate!”
The full shortlist is:
Campaign of the year
Feniks – Shed Your Armour, Show the Scars
Brain Health Scotland – My Amazing Brain
Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity – Jack’s Wee Snowman with the Big Heart
Western Isles Violence Against Women Partnership – Safer Outer Hebrides
Volunteer of the year
Andrii Zhehestovskyi – Libraries & Information Services Dundee
Garry Duthie – Camphill School Aberdeen
Gordon Harkin – Cancer Support Scotland
Pioneering project
Quarriers
SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health)
GEMAP
Capability Scotland
Cycling Without Age Scotland
Employee of the year
Man On! Inverclyde – Peter Canevale
Children’s Hospices Across Scotland – Charlie Leavy
Beatson Cancer Charity – Paul Sheerin
Community Action
Fresh Start Scotland
Golden Friendships
Maryhill Integration Network
Climate Conscious
YouthLink Scotland
Edinburgh Science
Climate Action Strathaven
Trustee of the year
Disability Snowsport UK – Carmel Teusner
Amma Birth Companions – Vongayi Mufara
Glasgow East Alcohol Awareness Project – John Strange
Glacial Narratives: Cracks in the Iceis on until Sunday (16 April) at Custom House in Leith (entry on the wharf side) from 11am until 6pm, as part of the Edinburgh Science Festival.
Glacial Narratives: Cracks in the Ice is an innovative and experimental multi-artform exhibition about ice from four artists who have spent considerable time in Arctic environments, and have developed a complementary series of artworks inspired by their experiences. These works will not only raise awareness of the wonder of ice as a material, but will also ask questions about its disappearance. The artists are:
It has been funded by Creative Scotland’s Open Fund, and supported by Tinderbox Collective, University of Edinburgh Department of Geosciences, Scottish Historic Buildings Trust and the University of Svalbard in Norway.
Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP joins Edinburgh Science Festival on 6 April, appearing in conversation with AmbassadorPatricia Espinosa.
Former chair of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC 2016-22), and Ambassador to Mexico & Germany, Patricia Espinosa, who was instrumental in efforts to make the Paris Agreement a reality and led crucial climate conversations at COP26 in Glasgow, joins Scotland’s former First Minister, for a fascinating conversation exploring Scottish, and global, efforts to face up to our climate emergency.
With discussion of climate justice, the role of legislation, UN Sustainable Development Goals and how we mitigate the unfolding effects of a changing climate and more, this event will give fascinating insights into global politics and what the next steps on this critical journey need to be.
Commenting Former First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, said: “I am delighted to be appearing at the Edinburgh Science Festival event: A Climate of Change alongside Patricia Espinosa.
“Climate Change undoubtedly presents one of the greatest challenges of our time – but the emergency we are facing presents an opportunity for collaboration and the chance to roll up our sleeves and build solutions for our future. Of course, the solutions we need are on a global scale but they begin with open conversations such as these, here in Scotland.”
On 5 April Patricia Espinosa also features as a special guest in a Climate Co-Lab event, which forms part of Edinburgh Science charity’s year-round programming. Previously known as Climate Opportunity Ideas Factory, these round table meetings encourage, support and facilitate Scottish industry leaders to address the challenges and opportunities that the climate revolution will bring.
2023 marks an important year for Scotland’s journey to net zero, with the publication of Scotland’s second – and most critical – climate change action plan due to be published in November this year. The plan will need to detail the key areas of action that will transform our economy into the world’s first Net Zero economy.
Chaired by Francesca Osowska from Nature Scot, this event focusses upon the three pillars of Scotland’s approach to accelerate towards a just transition to net zero: mobilizing finance, showcasing ambition, and addressing climate justice.
Patricia Espinosa said: “If we are to reach the ambitious – and necessary – targets that we have set in the fight against Climate Change and fulfill our commitment to humanity under the Paris Agreement, then we need to act and act on a global scale.
“I am delighted to be joining Edinburgh Science to lead these vital conversations both at their Climate Co-Lab Round Table meeting and a public discussion event with Ms Nicola Sturgeon MSP. Now is the time for us to work together to build a fairer, just, resilient and better future for everyone.”
Hannah Schlesigner, Director of Development and Marketing, Edinburgh Science, said: We are thrilled to be hosting this vital discussion event with former First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, and international diplomat Patricia Espinosa.
“The Edinburgh Science Festival has been proudly programming events such as these that highlight and inspire people of all ages and all backgrounds to action on our climate emergency for many years.
“We also recognize that individual action is not enough – we need governments, business leaders and decision-makers to act. That is why we launched our Climate Co-Labs, an opportunity for Senior leaders to gather, make connections and build the solutions that we need to transition to a brighter future.
“It is wonderful that Patricia Espinosa is getting involved in these and we look forward to the outcomes that we will see from this powerful discussion.”
Edinburgh Science
Edinburgh Science, founded in 1989, is an educational charity that aims to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to discover the world around them. The organisation is best known for organising Edinburgh’s annual Science Festival: the world’s first festival of science and technology and still one of Europe’s largest.
The two-week Festival provides wide and diverse audiences with amazing science-themed experiences through a diverse programme of innovative events for adults and families.
Alongside the annual Festival in Edinburgh, the organisation has a strong focus on education, running a touring programme, Generation Science, that brings science to life for primary schools around Scotland throughout the year, and running an annual Careers Hive event which promotes STEM careers to young people.
After programming on the themes of climate change and the environment for many years, in 2019 Edinburgh Science awarded the Edinburgh Medal to Christiana Figueres, the inspirational Costa Rican diplomat instrumental in the Paris Climate agreement. Inspired by this visit, Edinburgh Science established the Climate Co-Lab, a forum for all sectors to come together and generate collaborative actionable ideas that accelerate our transition to net zero.
One outcome from the Climate Co-Lab series if The NetZeroToolkit, a free, online resource that SMEs can use to build carbon management strategies.
Edinburgh Science also shares its content and expertise internationally through Edinburgh Science Worldwide and operates a large-scale international programme of work. It regularly presents events overseas and is currently the Major Programming Partner of the annual Abu Dhabi Science Festival, helping to curate, produce and deliver the event.
For international partners, the team at Edinburgh Science provide engaging content, curatorial advice on programming and business planning support, along with expert staff and training for local science communicators.
On Tuesday children in Leith Primary saw Edinburgh Science’s Busking Bikes science shows enter their schools for an end-of-term Science lesson with a twist!
Specialist science educators surprised primary 3-7 pupils with shows filled with science experiments that included rockets, balloons and even fizzy juice – covering topics from space travel to chemistry. All of this off the back of a bike!
This year Edinburgh Science’s Generation Science programme – which aims to help children to engage with science, technology, engineering and maths subjects – has reached around 12,000 primary school children from 257 schools in Scotland.
Patrick Campbell, Project Officer (Education), said: “This year has been incredibly challenging and reaching schools in person hasn’t always been possible, it felt great to see the busking bikes in action.
“We did see 2021 as an opportunity to try out new a new format – sending out Generation Science workshops in boxes – we’ve actually been able reach more schools than ever before!”
Hannah Schlesinger, Director of Marketing and Development, added: “Now, more than ever, primary schools need our support in sharing science, technology, engineering and maths education with children in an engaging and exciting way.
“We are so pleased to have had the opportunity to do that today.”
Edinburgh Science Festival’s schools’ programme is supported by Headline Learning supporter Baillie Gifford as well as Edina Trust and Edinburgh Science’s Catalysts (individual donors).
Edinburgh Science Festival begins on Saturday 26 June. With the theme of “One World: Science Connects Us, 2021 is jam-packed with events, most are free, online or outdoors.
Find out more and book your tickets on their website:
Elements of #EdSciFest is a digital reiteration of Edinburgh Science Festival 2020, now cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Elements of #EdSciFest draws on the original 2020 theme for the festival, Elementary, which used the ancient classifications of Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Aeather as lenses to look at the challenges and opportunities facing the planet.
Featuring dozens of free content items such as videos, Facebook Lives, blog posts, Q&As, online challenges and downloadable assets, Elements of #EdSciFest is the perfect opportunity to get hands-on with science at home, regardless of age.
Elements of #EdSciFest is live on sciencefestival.co.uk at 10am on Saturday 4 April with further events and assets to be added by 11 April. All content will be available online until normal service resumes.
Some of the highlights include live streamed talks from Claudia Hammond, Marcus Chown and Ilan Kelman, downloadable dinosaur craft activities, an online photo exhibition celebrating Scotland’s Coasts and Waters and a takeover of the Earth Live Lessons YouTube series.
Edinburgh Science team is pleased to reveal Elements of #EdSciFest, an ambitious free online programme of science videos, Facebook Lives, blogs, downloadable activities, Q&As, online challenges and more to keep sci-curious minds busy at home.
Being the world’s first and still Europe’s largest science festival, Edinburgh Science Festival has a wealth of experience in creating fun, engaging science content. Elements of #EdSciFest is set to be a fantastic resource for people of all ages confined to their homes and with many parents trying their hand at home-schooling.
Drawing on the Elementary theme of the Edinburgh Science Festival 2020, this wide-ranging project is a digital reiteration of the Festival which had to be cancelled in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the face of these unprecedented challenges, the Festival has called on its speakers and partner organisations to put together an exciting and innovative digital programme.
The content of the Elements of #EdSciFest programme explores science’s role in addressing the biggest global environmental challenges through five strands – Air, Earth, Fire, Water and Aether, the latter representing the digital world.
Each element provides a different way of looking at some of the challenges and opportunities facing humanity.
The All Fired Up strand focuses on how we tackle the climate crisis with the urgency it requires.
One Earth explores the circular and sharing economies, tackles our extinction crisis and looks at ways we can feed the world on a global scale. The Air We Breathe looks into air pollution and fuel alternatives that will help bring clean air to as many people as possible. Water for Life dives into our relationship with rivers and oceans and the protection they need from exploitation. Finally, Aether / Go Digital looks at the power we hold at our fingertips, the potential solutions that technology holds to our problems and the issues that might arise from it.
The Festival’s outdoor photography exhibition, Into the Blue, is now being brought indoors and on to our screens for everyone to enjoy from home. Every day the Festival is uploading a new picture from the exhibition on to their Instagram, taking users on a fascinating journey around some of Scotland’s most remarkable coastlines with stunning photography from local artists.
Online content will include a series of short science videos covering a huge range of topics. These have been filmed by speakers who were originally planned to appear at the Science Festival, along with some special new additions who were keen to get involved following the cancellation announcement.
Live-streamed content will include talks from broadcaster Claudia Hammond on the importance of rest in our fast-moving world, science writer Marcus Chown on the vast complexities of the Universe and Professor Ilan Kelman on how the majority of natural disasters are created or exacerbated by human choices.
Dr Raj Persaud brings back his TEDX and podcasts exploring themes such as seduction, pandemics and happiness.
60 Seconds Science series sees, among others, Prof Nick Jelly talking on renewable energy, Pragya Arwal taking on unconscious bias, Prof Geraint Lewis and Dr Luke Barnes presenting The Cosmic Revolutionary’s Handbook and Jan Hodel shining light on his work in brewing and distilling.
Very Short Introduction To…. series also continues online with 10 different science topics.
Elsewhere, The University of Edinburgh have prepared a range of videos exploring issues around climate change. Also, Digital World (Skills Development Scotland) are sharing a range of digital workshops and online learning with fun tasks challenging audiences to Defend a Hospital and Steal a Pizza.
Instead of the Dinosaur Weekend that was planned for children at the Pleasance, the Festival has designed a series of dinosaur craftsthat kids can download and make at home. Plus, two events that were planned for the Festival’s flagship family venue, the City Art Centre, will now take place in digital form as part of an Edinburgh Science takeover of the popularEarth Live Lessons YouTube series. On 10 and 11 April, viewers can livestream talks focused on our amazing oceans and Scottish wildlife.
National Space Academy, originally involved in Exploring Space Science, presents a series of events for the space-curious.
These include demo videos with Tim Peake, first British European Space Agency astronaut to visit the International Space Station, a virtual tour of the Science and Technology Facilities Council including space rocks brought from Apollo missions, online library of the National Space Centre, a series of short videos in which team from the National Space Centre answers questions from the public via social media and a TEDX talk from Kierann Shah on how space can save the world.
Through a series of This Is Engineering short videos as well as STEM teacher resources from the Royal Academy of Engineering, the young minds get a chance to have a closer look at engineering careers and the difference they make in the world. Also exploring the world of engineering is This Book Thinks You’re An Inventor by Jon Milton and Harriet Russell. Elements of #EdSciFest presents colourful and simple one-page engineering challenges and activities that can be done at home.
For Minecraft fans, Society of Antiquaries present Crafting the Past, a website which digitally recreates sites in Minecraft, enabling audiences to discover Scotland’s history, heritage and archaeology, including free to download maps.
Amanda Tyndall, Festival and Creative Director at Edinburgh Science, said: “Two weeks ago, we made the sad but necessary decision to cancel the Edinburgh Science Festival due to the global spread of COVID-19, but it takes more than lockdown to keep us down!
“We’ve reached out to our partners, participants and supporters, wracked our brains and trawled our archives and I’m delighted to announce that our online offering, ‘Elements of #EdSciFest’, will launch on 4 April.
“Using the ancient classifications of Earth, Air, Fire and Water and Aether to explore how science can help address some of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing us as individuals, societies and as a planet, we’ll bring you talks, reading lists, film recommendations, curated articles, downloadable resources and a selection of ‘live’ events that help ensure that everyone – from kids, parents and teachers to the just generally sci-curious – can get still get some science this Easter!’’
Edinburgh’s major festivals have revealed the extent of their year-round school engagement programmes, which have reached almost every school in the city over the period January 2018 – May 2019.
The new report finds that Edinburgh’s festivals have reached more than 90% of schools across the city through wide ranging activity which takes place both during and out with live festival time.
Through mapping of activity across the 18 months period, the study shows that festivals have engaged with every secondary school in Edinburgh, and almost all the city’s primary and special schools.
The engagement has had a big impact locally.
In West Pilton, Forthview Primary School has a particularly strong relationship with the festivals, being involved in 8 programmes and with over 1,400 pupil engagements since 2018.
The school regularly attend performances at the Children’s Festival, and the Book Festival’s Bailie Gifford programme. It is also part of the Fringe’s Children and Young People scheme, which offers free Fringe vouchers and bus tickets, to help overcome some of the barriers for pupils and their families to see shows.
Forthview is one of six Edinburgh primary schools participating in the Children’s Festival’s Immerse project, an ambitious 3-year initiative which embeds creative learning in the classroom.
The project started in autumn 2019 with each school hosting the ground-breaking immersive theatre production ‘The Lost Lending Library’, which uses drama to support attainment in literacy.
In Leith, Leith Academy have a long standing relationship with many festivals, regularly participating in programmes such as the Book Festival’s Bailie Gifford programme, the Science Festival’s Career Hive and the Film Festival’s Media Days workshops.
The Edinburgh International Festival has partnered with Leith Academy for a three-year residency, opening up a series of unique cultural opportunities for pupils. Three artists in residence are working in the school, with creative workshops linked to festival performances, and a culture club which offering social trips to experience theatre, music, visual art and dance in the city throughout the year.
The residency also looks to develop personal and vocational skills, with pupils being supported to work towards Personal Development Awards qualifications, and mentoring for senior students by festival staff to help build confidence and prepare for their next steps.
There have been over 58,000 pupil engagements – the number of times pupils have been involved in festival activities – with many benefiting from multiple opportunities.
From Gilmerton to Granton, Corstorphine to Craigmillar, the festivals are working with children and teachers across the whole city to bring young people enriching experiences and opportunities for creative learning.
These cover regular longstanding education programmes as well as new projects, through which festivals have supported learning in areas including music, drama, visual arts, science, technology, film and many more.
In addition to their spread throughout Edinburgh, there is a clear focus to the festivals’ engagement. It is within areas of the city with the lowest attendance at festivals that there is the highest participation in school programmes: a great step toward an Edinburgh where everyone regardless of background has the opportunity to make the most of the festivals.
Two thirds of residents attend shows and events at the festivals each year, but it is also hugely important to enable young people to engage with culture and develop the next generation of festival-goers.
There are several examples of programmes working over a long-term period, involving deeper engagement to create truly collaborative projects that will be of lasting benefit.
As well as directly working with pupils, the festivals also work with teachers on continuing professional development opportunities. These encourage and enable teachers to see the wider creative learning possibilities of engaging with festivals and help teachers bring creativity into the classroom.
A few examples of projects that the festivals have been working on, alongside some comments from teachers who are involved, include:
Teachers’ Theatre Club
A new collaboration between Edinburgh International Children’s Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society that aims to encourage Edinburgh’s teachers to see more live performance, become more confident in discussing this with their students and enhance students’ learning experiences.
Serena Jagpal, Pentlands Primary School, said: “When applying to be a part of the Teachers’ Theatre Club, I saw it as interesting CPD. I never thought for a second that it would give me so much more.
“Over the course of the project I have engaged in discussions with a wide range of professionals in the arts, experienced theatre that I would never have thought to go see myself and discussed how I would use these shows with my pupils ….what has taken me by surprise is the camaraderie I have experienced. I hope this project runs for many years to come and I urge as many teachers as possible to experience this.”
Leith Academy residency
A three-year Edinburgh International Festival residency with Leith Academy, involving new cultural opportunities as well as developing pupils’ personal and vocational skills.
The residency includes a series of projects, from pupils working with artists in residence to learning about marketing and branding with the festival’s own teams. In addition, students are supported to gain a Personal Development Award at SQA level 6, with workplace experience with staff at the festival.
Mike Irving, Head Teacher, Leith Academy said: “In 2019/20 there is an ever greater need to look creatively and collaboratively at our curriculum. Our work with the Edinburgh International Festival helps us harness the skills of creativity, teamwork, problem solving and communication daily.
“This particular branding event allowed our young people to not only see how branding ‘comes alive’, but to actually be part of creating it from start to finish with skilled professionals …
“In a world where the jobs young people will do is a dynamic and fluid one, we are very grateful to the wonderful opportunities the young people of Leith are being offered through the residency in order to open their horizons of what their ‘next steps’ may be.”
Edinburgh Science Festival
Every year, Generation Science offers a programme of interactive shows and hands-on workshops for primary schools, delivered in the classroom.
The Careers Hive, which gets underway this year from 25 February, is an interactive showcase for careers in science and technology, targeted at secondary school pupils and designed to highlight opportunities from studying STEM subjects. Through Generation Science and Careers Hive, Edinburgh Science reach 81 schools across Edinburgh and more than 12,500 pupils.
With over 90% of the city’s schools already getting involved, the ambition of Edinburgh’s Festivals is to use the collective picture of schools’ engagement to inform the targeting of future projects and initiatives and enhance the lives of many more young people for years to come.
Spectacular street science entertained children in North Edinburgh yesterday.
Edinburgh Science Festival ‘Busking Bikes’ were in the area entertaining children from four local primary schools as well as having a public show in the new ‘town centre’ by Muirhouse Library.
