Tag: finalists announced

Lothian wheelchair basketball coach shortlisted for national award

A Wheelchair Basketball coach from West Lothian has been shortlisted for the Community Coach of the Year for Children and Young People by UK Coaching, in recognition of their outstanding work coaching young people with disabilities. 

The UK Coaching Awards is a national celebration event, regarded as the most prestigious within the coaching community and created to celebrate the remarkable contributions coaches make – from delivering high quality and technical coaching, to supporting participants both physically and mentally. 

Tina Gordon has been passionate about coaching wheelchair basketball for over 30 years having coached at junior through to the senior competitive levels.

For the past eight years she has shifted her focus to coaching young people with physical disabilities under the age of 14.

Seeing how participation in wheelchair basketball brings out their confidence and helps the players become more independent outside of the basketball court, Tina reflected on her experience as “giving her great joy”. 

Tina said: “I feel very humbled and proud to be nominated for the ‘Community Coach of the Year. Hearing that the young players (and their parents) at Lothian Phoenix had nominated me certainly was a surprize and one I’m very grateful for – normally it’s me nominating them for awards!

“I love coaching young people and to see them having fun with their pals, achieving their aspirations & dreams through playing wheelchair basketball, really energises me and fills me with such joy.

“Seeing young people with disabilities having fun with their pals, developing their confidence, and achieving their dreams, gives me such a buzz, I just love it!  

“The most important thing for me as a coach is seeing how sport, and wheelchair basketball in particular, can positively enhance young people’s lives. To see so many smiling faces each week at training, and the pride on family members faces fills me with such joy – I feel I have an extended family myself!”

With previous award winners including Sarina Wiegman, Jane Figueiredo, Judy Murray, and Ben Stokes’ coaching chain, the awards celebrate the best of the UK’s Coaching workforce, the unforgettable moments they deliver, and the profound impact at every level of sport and activity.

UK Coaching’s CEO Mark Gannon congratulated Tina on the nomination, and reflected on the huge variety of coaching talent announced: “We are delighted to announce our finalists for the 2023 UK Coaching Awards.

“Across the board we have seen so much talent, passion and commitment amongst our amazing coaching workforce, and this year’s finalists represent the best of our nation’s coaches who do so much to support people through sport and physical activity. 

“All of our finalists should be extremely proud of what they have been able to achieve and fully deserve this recognition. We are very much looking forward to celebrating together at our UK Coaching Awards ceremony, bringing together the coaches that are going above and beyond to deliver outstanding experiences and make a real difference in their community.” 

The awards will be held on 5 December at the Queens Hotel in Leeds.

Find out more about this year’s finalists and the awards by heading to:

www.ukcoaching.org/uk-coaching-awards.

COSLA Excellence Awards: Finalists Announced

Fifteen projects from eleven Councils across Scotland have been announced today as finalists for the 2023 Excellence Awards, which are COSLA’s annual celebration of Scottish Local Government success – celebrating the very best of Scottish Local Government.

No City of Edinburgh Council projects have made the final shortlist.

Scotland’s 32 Councils were invited over the summer to submit entries to a judging panel comprising a number of experts across local and national government as well as the private sector.

After much deliberation our judging teams determined their finalists from dozens of applications of an incredibly high quality. The judges’ shortlist features a series of projects and programmes which highlighted areas of best practice and innovative service delivery over five categories: Service Innovation and Improvement, Achieving Better Outcomes for the Most Vulnerable in Partnership, Tackling Inequalities and Improving Health and Wellbeing, Strengthening Communities and Local Democracy and Just Transition to a Net Zero Economy.

More than 200 applications were received, and the judges had the unenviable task of choosing just three category finalists in each category.

A further series of judging days will take place in late August, during which a team of judges led by COSLA President Shona Morrison, and Vice-President Steven Heddle, will decide on a winner in each category as well as the winners of four special awards – COSLA Chairperson’s Award, SOLACE Best Team Award, The Scottish Government – Delivering Excellence Award, and the Excellent People, Excellent Outcomes Award.

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at COSLA’s Annual Conference and Exhibition, which will take place on Thursday 28th September, 2023.

Councillor Shona Morrison, COSLA President and Chairperson of the Excellence Awards, said: “I’m delighted that we are able to announce this year’s COSLA Excellence Awards finalists.

“It hasn’t been an easy task for our judges to narrow the applications down to just fifteen finalists across our categories, especially given the exceptional high quality of projects and programmes that have been entered by councils across Scotland this year.

“It has been wonderful hearing so many positive and inspiring stories from council teams working hard to deliver valued services in communities right across the country.

“The challenges councils are facing cannot be underestimated. What really shone through from the entries this year was innovation and creativity at a local level to overcome challenges – and the sheer determination from Scotland’s councils to simply make people’s lives better at a very challenging time for all.

“So, huge congratulations to this year’s finalists – it has been a pleasure to hear first-hand about the amazing work going on across our councils. I look forward to our winners being announced at the in-person awards ceremony in September”.

This year’s finalists are:

Category 1: Service innovation and improvement (Sponsored by Food Standards Scotland)

  • Delivering School Meals by Drones – Argyll and Bute Council
  • Stirling Council Healthier Homes Project – Stirling Council
  • 24/7 CCTV/Digital Alarms Hub – Falkirk Council

Category 2: Achieving better outcomes for the most vulnerable in partnership

  • Lighthouse – Perth and Kinross Council
  • Building Skills Together Refugee Integration Project – Dundee City Council
  • Up streaming Prevention of Youth Homelessness – West Lothian Council

Category 3: Tackling inequalities and improving health and wellbeing (Sponsored by Public Health Scotland)

  • Implementing regulate, relate, reason in education – Fife Council
  • Libraries for wellbeing – Falkirk Council
  • Alcohol and substance awareness education resource – Renfrewshire Council

Category 4: Strengthening communities and local democracy

  • Zetland Park Project – Falkirk Council
  • Historic Links to Slavery – Inverclyde Council
  • Joint Bonfire Protocol and Multi-Agency Control Centre – Glasgow City Council, Neighbourhoods, Regeneration and Sustainability

Category 5: Just transition to a net zero economy

  • Orkney’s Community Wind Farm Project – Orkney Islands Council
  • Blackburn as a Climate Action Town – West Lothian Council
  • Sustainable Grass Management Pilot Project – Falkirk Council

Places can be booked for the Awards Ceremony at COSLA’s Conference and Exhibition here.

Scottish Charity Awards 2023 Finalists Announced

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. Among those nominees are West-Pilton based Fresh Start, who have been shortlisted in the Community Action category.

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.

The full shortlist includes:

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
  • RSABI – David Leggat MBE

Digital Citizens

  • Simon Community Scotland
  • Scottish Union of Supported Employment
  • North East Sensory Services (NESS)

Charity of the year

  • Team Jak Foundation
  • Maslow’s Community
  • Diversified
  • Community Food Initiatives North East

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!”

Finalists announced for the VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Awards

More than 40 firms across Scotland are in the running to secure a prestigious VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Award.

A record number of entrants for the 2022 awards have been narrowed down to 45 finalists – from across a range of industries including food and drink, construction and life sciences. They will all be considered for one or more categories ahead of the award ceremony later this year.

Scotland is famous for its culture of innovation, making it ideally positioned to play a leading role in the journey to a more sustainable, low carbon future.

The VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Awards are a partnership between the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), The Scottish Government, Energy Saving Trust, Highland & Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise, Scottish Water, Zero Waste Scotland and NatureScot.

Since 1999, the VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Awards has recognised more than 270 businesses that have championed sustainability by identifying ways to tackle the impact on the planet by reducing consumption of its resources.

From increasing recycling and facilitating active travel to reducing consumption of raw materials by adopting a more circular approach, the dedication and drive of companies in Scotland at the forefront of tackling environmental change has been recognised by the VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Awards.

Gillian Bruce, chair of VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Awards, said: “Every year, the VIBES Awards highlight the progress made across Scotland to help move towards net zero.

“We see more and more firms and organisations who recognise environmental innovation and best practice can also bring economic benefits and it is always inspiring to hear entrants tell us about their work.

“Scotland is a leader in climate change action and every business can play a part in leading Scotland to Net Zero. We hope the finalists will encourage others to improve their environmental practices and help to safeguard Scotland for future generations.”

Environment Minister, Mairi McAllan, said: “Businesses have a huge role to play in protecting our environment and tackling the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss and I would like to congratulate all those that have been shortlisted.

“The VIBES awards are a great opportunity to recognise businesses that are showing leadership in making their operations more sustainable as part of Scotland’s journey to net zero.”

Around three quarters of this year’s applicants have entered VIBES for the first time. Two of the 12 categories – Nature Rich Scotland and Energy Transition Scotland – are new awards.

In the next stage, judges will interview each finalist or take part in a site visit, where finalists will be able to demonstrate their work. This will be fed back to the head judging panel, who will select the 2022 winners.

A full list of finalists:

  • Adelphi Distillery Ltd., (Ardnamurchan Distillery)
  • Aqualution Systems Ltd
  • Arran Dairies LTD Arran Milk & Arran Ice Cream Taste of Arran LTD
  • Balbeg Country Holidays
  • Beyond Green Advisors Ltd
  • BlueGreen Glasgow
  • Borders College
  • Bruichladdich Distillery Co Ltd
  • Dundee Rep & Scottish Dance Theatre Limited
  • Dunnet Bay Distillers Ltd
  • Edinburgh International Festival
  • Edinburgh Remakery
  • EGG Lighting
  • Frasers of Balmaha
  • Fresh as a Daisy (Dunblane) Ltd
  • Glasgow Chamber of Commerce
  • Green Action Trust
  • Hickory
  • Highland Meats
  • Highlands Rewilding Ltd
  • Hydrowheel Ltd
  • Innovatium Group
  • Kenoteq Ltd
  • KR Group
  • Logitech
  • Move On Wood Recycling
  • Multiplex Construction Europe
  • Omexom Morgan Sindall JV (unincorporated joint venture)
  • ReBlade Limited
  • Recyke a Bike
  • Redeem Exchange
  • Renfrewshire Council
  • Saltire Roofing & Building Ltd
  • SAMS Enterprise – Seaweed Academy
  • SAMS Enterprise – SIMBA
  • SRUC Elmwood Golf
  • The Highland Council
  • The Leith Collective CIC
  • ThermaFY Group
  • Total Homes Co-operative
  • University of Strathclyde
  • Verlume
  • Wood Recyclability
  • Woodlands Glencoe
  • YES Recycling Fife and Ecosheet