STV is to recognise local champions from across Scotland in a star studded awards ceremony hosted by Carol Smillie. RBS: Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes – The Awards will air on STV at 9pm on Tuesday (15 December). Continue reading STV to broadcast Real Heroes awards ceremony
The third series of RBS: Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes returns to STV tonight to celebrate people whose tireless effort, resourcefulness, and kindness has improved local communities across Scotland.
The series, sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland, begins with a special launch show tonight at 8pm – RBS-How to be a Real Hero, where actors Jayd Johnson and Ron Donachie catch up with four winners from the 2014 series to see how being voted a winner has changed their lives, and the projects they work with.
The show also gives advice to viewers on how they can get involved in helping in their local communities and become real heroes themselves.
The series continues on Monday 26 October featuring the individuals who have been nominated by the public and selected by a special jury. Across the five episodes, a line up of ‘star reporters’ including Richard Wilson (One Foot in the Grave), actress and singer Clare Grogan and Commonwealth Gold medallist swimmer Hannah Miley will visit each of the nominees and interview them about their work in the community and their thoughts on the nomination for an award.
This year’s shortlist includes deserving Scots from across the country, from Stonehaven to West Calder, and Nairn to Cupar. Categories including RBS Community Project of the Year and Hero Animal of the Year will return again this year as well as two new additional award categories including Hero Mum or Dad and Fundraiser of the Year.
At the end of each programme, viewers are invited to vote for the nominees they believe most deserving of an award, with the overall winners being announced at a glittering, star studded televised awards ceremony later in the year.
Elizabeth Partyka, deputy director of channels at STV, said: “The time has come to highlight the outstanding work modestly carried out by each of this year’s nominees. We look forward to celebrating the enormous achievement of each of these individuals who make a real difference in their local community. Each story tells of a remarkable accomplishment and is very moving – all the finalists are considered to be most deserving however it is the STV viewers that decide who will receive an award.”
Chris Wilson, Royal Bank of Scotland’s Managing Director of Branch and Private Banking in Scotland said: “Everyone at Royal Bank of Scotland is looking forward to finding out more about this year’s incredible finalists. We think it’s important to celebrate those people who go that extra mile for their community. Each one of the finalists is deserving of recognition and we are all looking forward to seeing who the public choose.”
The last few doors have been knocked, the final leaflets have been posted through letterboxes … now it’s up to the voters of Leith Walk:
Leith Walk constituents will go to the polls to elect two councillors for the ward tomorrow (Thursday 10 September).
There are 25,526 Leith Walk residents registered to vote in the election, which takes place in one of the most densely populated areas in Scotland.
Under the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system – a form of Proportional Representation – voters use numbers to rank the 10 candidates in order of preference rather than just using a single cross. Voters can express ‘preferences’ for as many or as few of the candidates as they wish.
This will be the first time in Scotland that an STV by-election has been needed to fill two vacancies in the same ward.
Andrew Kerr, Returning Officer for The City of Edinburgh, said: “This by-election will allow the residents of the Leith Walk ward to play a part in Edinburgh’s democracy, choosing two elected members to represent them and their interests on the City Council. I look forward to working with the electorate to make sure the process runs smoothly.
“Voters should remember that STV allows them to vote for as many candidates they like, numbering choices in order of preference.”
Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on 10 September. There are 11 polling places in the ward, details of which can be found on polling cards and the Council website.
Votes will be taken to the Council HQ where the candidates and their agents will watch them counted electronically as soon as the polls close at 10pm.
Full details of candidates are also available on the Council website.
Find out more about the Single Transferable Vote system.
Leith Walk By-Election: In numbers
11 polling places
19 polling stations
3996 postal votes issued
2 councillors to be elected
10 candidates
25,526 eligible voters – about 7% of the city’s electorate
210 books of ballot papers (100 in each)
40 polling staff, including presiding officers and poll clerks.
The Social Bite, Edinburgh Uni’s Best Buddies and veteran fundraising champion Tom Gilzean among those up for awards
Today, a shortlist of Scottish heroes has been unveiled ahead of the third series of RBS: Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes on STV to recognise people who have dedicated their time to local communities across Scotland.
A judging panel including John Boyle, chairman of Hamilton Portfolio Ltd and Motherwell FC, Managing Director of Branch and Private Banking in Scotland at Royal Bank of Scotland, Chris Wilson and Michael Shanks, member of the 77th Disabled Scout group which took home the RBS Young Real Hero of the Year award last year, gathered to narrow down the nominations received for this year’s show.
Elizabeth Partyka, fellow judge and deputy director of channels at STV said: “The series is a great opportunity to shine a light on people working tirelessly in communities to help improve the lives of others. We have seen an overwhelming response to this year’s call for nominations across Scotland and there are some truly inspiring stories to be told.
“The shortlist of nominees will be visited by our celebrity reporters throughout the show and it will be over to STV viewers to vote for the nominees they believe most deserving of an award.”
The series, presented by Carol Smillie and sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland returns to STV later this year. This year’s shortlist includes deserving Scots from all across the country.
Categories including Community Project of the Year and Hero Animal of the Year will return again this year as well as two new additional award categories including Hero Mum or Dad and Fundraiser of the Year. The overall winners will be voted for by the public and will be announced at a glittering, star studded televised awards ceremony later in the year.
Chris Wilson, Managing Director of Branch and Private Banking in Scotland at Royal Bank of Scotlandsaid: “It is a real honour to be part of the judging panel again this year. It’s important to celebrate the people that make a real difference in our local communities – especially those who would otherwise go unrecognised – and I think that every person on the shortlist is a deserving winner. Everyone at The Royal Bank of Scotland is getting behind the series again this year and we are all looking forward to finding out more about the finalists when the series airs later this year.”
And the nominations are ….
RBS: FINDING SCOTLAND’S REAL HEROES SHORTLIST
Community Champion
Ashley McIIvenny (Include Me 2); Barrhead, Glasgow
John O’Byrne (The John O’Byrne Foundation); Bellahouston, Glasgow
Jessie Douglas (Richmond’s Hope); Niddrie, Edinburgh
Sporting Volunteer of the Year
Carol Jones (Kelvingrove Community Tennis Club); Kelvingrove, Glasgow
Gregor Gardner (Azami Falkirk Judo Club); Hallglen, Falkirk
Janice Millar (Kilmarnock Harriers); Darvel, Ayrshire
Hero Neighbour of the Year
John O’Hara; East Glasgow
Donna Fitzpatrick; Fullerton, Irvine
Margaret ‘Mum’ Miller; Springboig, Glasgow
Fundraiser of the Year
Liz Smillie; Prestwick
Tom Gilzean; Edinburgh
Linzi O’Neil; Fife
Community Project of the Year
Paragon Music; Glasgow
The Social Bite; Edinburgh
The Coming Home Centre; Glasgow
Hero Mum or Dad
Pappinder Singh, Leith
Susan Hunter, Penicuik
Vicky Walker, Nairn
Scotland’s Real Heroes Courage Award
Allison Barr, West Calder
Paul Surgeon, Kirkintilloch
Suzanne Davies, Stonehaven
Carer of the Year
Karen Anderson (Carers United); Evanton
David Forbes (Future Choices); Aberdeen
East Kilbride Dementia Carer’s Group; East Kilbride
Young Real Hero of the Year
Leah-Grace Kean; Baillieston, Glasgow
Lee Falconer; Maryhill, Glasgow
Best Buddies Edinburgh
Hero Animal of the Year
Damson the Dog (Canine Partners): Slateford, Edinburgh
Jewel the Pony (Ravelrig RDA): Ravelrig, Edinburgh
Spike the Dog (Hearing Dogs for Deaf People): Cupar, Fife
For more information, visit www.stv.tv/realheroes or get involved on Twitter #scotlandsrealheroes or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/scotrealheroes.
STV Edinburgh and STV Glasgow will join forces to bring the best of the festival into homes across the central belt next month. They are pairing up to broadcast the Edinburgh Festival 2015 programme live from Akva bar and cafe from Wednesday 5 August.
The show will see hosts Ewen Cameron and Hayley Matthews from STV Edinburgh’s flagship programme The Fountainbridge Show team up with STV Glasgow’s David Farrell and Jennifer Reoch to bring the best international talent and local acts to the screen over the course of the festival.
Paul Hughes, channel editor of STV’s City channels said: “The Edinburgh Festival is the world’s biggest arts festival and it’s on our doorstep. It’s an exciting opportunity for STV’s City channels to cover an event that’s both local and global at the same time bringing the festival to our viewers in a way we never have before.”
The one-hour show will be broadcast live at 7pm each weekday evening from the canal-side Akva bar and restaurant at Edinburgh Quay.
Councillor Richard Lewis, Edinburgh’s Festivals and Events Champion, said: “Every year, visitors and media from all over the world descend on the Scottish capital to experience our festivals. No one is more immersed in the festival atmosphere than the local reporters who cover Edinburgh in August.
“This new show will give viewers a unique insight into the heart of each festival. It’s great that STV is shining a spotlight on Edinburgh in this way and I hope it will encourage viewers to visit the city for themselves.”
As well as the Edinburgh Festival 2015 programme, STV Edinburgh and STV Glasgow will be featuring highlights of the festival on the Edinburgh Festival 2015 catch-up programme from 8:30pm Monday to Friday and the Edinburgh Festival See What You Missed show each weekend.
Edinburgh Festival 2015 is sponsored by the Barbados Tourism Authority and is available on Freeview channel 23, Sky channel 117 and Virgin channel 159.
STV invites viewers to nominate community heroes
The search for Scotland’s most deserving community heroes is now underway with the launch today this week of the third season of RBS – Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes.
Following the success of last year’s series, which received nominations from across Scotland, STV is calling for people from Edinburgh to nominate the friends, family or community groups who have dedicated their time and effort to helping the lives of others. The public can nominate online at stv.tv/realheroes, by phone and by post.
The new series, presented by Carol Smillie and sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland, will air on STV this autumn with viewers across Scotland encouraged to cast their vote for the heroes they believe are most deserving of an award.
Each week, shortlisted nominees will be interviewed by a range of star reporters including comedians Fred MacAulay and Sanjeev Kohli, Elaine C Smith (Burdz Eye View), River City stars Jayd Johnson and Stephen Purdon, Ron Donachie (Game of Thrones) and David Hayman (On Weir’s Way with David Hayman, Shetland) to gain some insight into the inspiring work they do within their local communities.
The overall winners will be announced at a star-studded awards ceremony with the overall final category winners in the running to collect the RBS Scotland’s Real Hero of the Year Award.
Elizabeth Partyka, deputy director of channels at STV said: “We were overwhelmed by the public’s response to the last two series of RBS – Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes and have met some truly inspiring people and groups from across Scotland. We want viewers from Edinburgh to nominate their friends, colleagues, neighbours or local groups so we can shine a light on the real heroes of Scotland that truly deserve recognition.”
RBS: Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes is sponsored by RBS.
Debbie Pow, RBS’s Local Chief Executive Officer, Edinburgh said: “We are delighted to be supporting the third series of RBS: Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes. This is a fantastic way to recognise inspiring individuals who have generously dedicated their time and skills to helping others within our communities in Scotland. Everyone at Royal Bank of Scotland will be getting behind the series and we are all looking forward to finding out more about the finalists when the series airs on STV later this year.”
For more information, visit www.stv.tv/realheroes.
STV GREENS SNUB: Legal challenge not ruled out
More than ten thousand people have signed the petition calling for Scottish Green Party inclusion in STV’s leaders debate. Leaders of Scotland’s other four major parties have also announced their support for the Greens inclusion.
Launched at 11am on Thursday, after STV announced their plans to hold a debate with four of Scotland’s five parties, the petition has received support across Scotland, peaking at forty signatures a minute and reaching ten thousand signatures at 13.53 on Saturday.
Commenting on the public and political support, Patrick Harvie MSP said: “This groundswell of support across Scotland shows that there is a clear demand for the Greens to be included in the debate. These past two years have seen high-quality, enjoyable televised debates, with STV often hosting the best of them and with the Greens regularly given a platform. The public clearly expect this diversity of vision to continue being on offer, if only for them as voters to give us the scrutiny we all deserve.
“We are also grateful for the messages of support from the leaders of Scotland’s four other major parties. Their statements add considerable weight to the call by over ten thousand members of the public for STV to reconsider and extend an invitation to the Greens. Taking legal action is not our preferred option but it is one we will have to keep open unless the broadcaster reconsiders their position.”
STV’s city TV channels, STV Edinburgh and STV Glasgow, are to enhance their schedules with extended transmission hours, additional news bulletins and sport.
From Monday 2 March the channels will be on air from 7am and will feature hourly week day news bulletins from midday. At 6pm, 8pm and 10pm, thirty minute news programmes will bring viewers across central Scotland all the latest updates.
The enhanced schedule will also include The Peter and Roughie Saturday Show with pitch-side updates from SPFL matches across all four divisions from Peter Martin and Alan Rough each Saturday.
The Fountainbridge Show will continue to air week day evenings from 1900 to 2000 on STV Edinburgh, with The Riverside Show airing at the same time on STV Glasgow. At 8,30pm each week night original, locally produced content will be broadcast across both channels: The People’s History Show on Mondays; Jak & Eddie’s Scottish Kitchen on Tuesdays; My Life in 10 Pictures on Wednesdays; Grass Roots Music on Thursdays; and Ch-Ewen the Fat with The Fountainbridge Show co-host Ewen Cameron on Fridays.
From 07am each week day morning, and 9am at weekends, STV Glasgow and STV Edinburgh will air a range of popular kids’ programmes made by STV, including, Meeow, Butterfingers, Uncle Dad and Harry and the Wrinklies.
Weekends will feature Scottish Parliament This Week.
In the first month on air, STV Glasgow and STV Edinburgh have reached a combined monthly audience of over one million viewers with an engaging mix of news, innovative formats and classic dramas from the STV archive.
Bobby Hain, director of channels at STV, said: “City TV is a long term commitment for STV and the enhanced schedules that will be launched in early March support our strategy to deliver relevant content to consumers across Scotland. Both city TV channels have delivered in line with expectations since launch and the extended hours and enhanced news offering allows us to align the schedules on both channels so we offer the best possible service for our audiences.”
STV Glasgow broadcasts to a potential audience of two million viewers in the west of Scotland and STV Edinburgh has a potential reach of one million viewers in the east. The channels are delivered in partnership with Glasgow Caledonian University and Edinburgh Napier University, with over 100 students from the universities having gained experience so far through their involvement in broadcast operations of the channels.
STV Glasgow launched in June 2014 with STV Edinburgh following in January this year. The channels broadcast on Freeview channel 23, Sky channel 117 and Virgin Media channel 159 within their transmission areas. STV, STV Glasgow and STV Edinburgh are also available to watch live online with the STV Player.
In October last year STV also confirmed applications have been submitted to deliver local TV in Aberdeen, Ayr and Dundee and are awaiting a response from Ofcom.
Have you watched the new TV station? What do you think?
New local channel on air in January
STV Edinburgh will launch in early January 2015 with a magazine show broadcast live from the capital each weekday evening. The Fountainbridge Show will be presented nightly from the studio by former Heart and Real Radio breakfast show host Ewen Cameron and broadcaster and presenter Hayley Matthews.
Ewen and Hayley will be joined on the live programme by roving reporters Zara Janjua and George Ward. The Fountainbridge News will air from 1830 – 1900 each evening, followed by The Fountainbridge Show from 1900 – 2030.
The Fountainbridge Show will reflect what’s happening in the city each day with a combination of local news, community features and live entertainment.
STV Edinburgh will be on air midday to midnight each day with an entertaining mix of news and features, live and interactive formats, and quality acquired and archive programming, including Take the High Road and Days of Honour.
Paul Hughes, channel editor for STV Edinburgh said: “The launch of STV Edinburgh offers a brand new platform for local community groups in the capital city to share their stories. The Fountainbridge Show is part of an entertaining schedule with locally relevant content for this unique city.
“STV Glasgow has delivered a strong performance since launch nearly six months ago and we anticipate a positive response from the people of Edinburgh when we begin broadcasting in early January.”
The launch of STV Edinburgh follows the launch of STV Glasgow in June 2014. STV Glasgow reaches a monthly audience of 600,000 in Glasgow and the west, with 64% of the transmission area tuning in since launch.
Ofcom announced the award of licences to STV for Glasgow and Edinburgh in January 2013. STV Edinburgh will be delivered in partnership with Edinburgh Napier University, offering students the opportunity to work in a live television environment. STV has also submitted applications to Ofcom to deliver local TV in Aberdeen, Ayr and Dundee.
STV Edinburgh will broadcast on Freeview channel 23, Sky channel 117 and Virgin channel 159 and will be available to watch live on the STV Player. Ahead of the channel’s launch, viewers will be asked to retune their televisions to pick up the Freeview signal for channel 23.
The new channel will complement STV’s current portfolio of locally focused services on air, online and on mobile.
Can local youth club Fet-Lor win Community Project of the Year? Come to that, can Sid the horse win Hero Animal of the Year? All will be revealed a week tonight …
RBS-Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes: The Awards will air on STV at 8pm next Tuesday (14 October). The star studded event is hosted by Carol Smillie (pictured above)and will recognise local champions from across Scotland.
The hour long programme will see a total of 11 awards handed out by famous faces, including Nicholas McDonald of The X Factor, actor Bill Paterson, actor Clare Grogan and Taggart star Alex Norton, to Scots who have worked tirelessly to improve the lives of people in their local area.
The Scottish public were asked to nominate friends, neighbours or groups who they thought deserved to be recognised earlier this year and the judging panel revealed a shortlist of nominees after an overwhelming response. Each week six nominees in ten categories were showcased for the RBS – Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes series in which the viewers were invited to vote for the candidate they believed most deserved to collect an award.
A winner from each category will be revealed in STV’s programme on Friday 14th October then one extraordinary hero, selected from the final category winners, will collect the RBS Scotland’s Real Hero of the Year Award.
Elizabeth Partyka, deputy director of channels at STV, said: “To stand out from thousands of entries, our nominees are all doing something pretty remarkable. But their commitment, energy and inspiration are typical of the truly inspiring Scots who go the extra mile for their community. This awards ceremony on STV is a great way to celebrate and reward their achievement.”
Chris Wilson, Royal Bank of Scotland’s Managing Director of Branch and Private Banking in Scotland, said:“We’re really pleased at how successful this year’s series of RBS – Finding Scotland’s Real Heroes has been and the way the Scottish public has got behind all of the finalists. It’s important to celebrate the extraordinary lengths people in communities all around Scotland go to make a difference to the lives of those around them. We’re really looking forward to finding out who the Scottish public has voted as their Real Heroes and giving them the recognition they deserve at the awards ceremony.”
The following individuals, groups and organisations have been shortlisted for an RBS Real Hero award:
COMMUNITY ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
Jim McConkey – Govan, Glasgow
Vicki McCarthy (REACH for Autism) – Greenock, Inverclyde
Ross Cowie (Lucky2BHere) – Portree, Isle of Skye
SPORTING VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Elaine McKenna (Special Olympics Lothian) – Blackburn, West Lothian
Pat Bannan (Bannan Fitness Club) –Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire
Andrew Campbell (Camran Taekwando) – Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire
HERO NEIGHBOUR OF THE YEAR
Ann Graham – Riverside, Stirling
Mo and Roxy Razzaq – Blantyre, South Lanarkshire
Margaret (Garry) Robertson – Wick, Caithness.
COMMUNITY CHAMPION OF THE YEAR
Bathgate Street Pastors – Bathgate, West Lothian
Jackie McIntosh (MS Therapy Centre Inverness) – Inverness, Highlands
Margaret Gibb (West of Scotland Play Scheme) – Bellshill, South Lanarkshire.
RBS COMMUNITY PROJECT OF THE YEAR
Fet Lor – Crewe Toll, Edinburgh
The Driving Force – Bonnybridge, Falkirk
The Serenity Cafe – Edinburgh.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT OF THE YEAR
Saltburn Woodland Walk – Invergordon, Highlands
Yooz Reuse & Recycling – Bellshill, North Lanarkshire
Killie Can Cycle – Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire.
SCOTLAND’S REAL HEROES COURAGE AWARD
Dean Reilly (Dean Reilly V’s MS) – Portobello, Edinburgh
Amanda McTaggart (Wigbank Glasgow) – Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire
Jenny Cook (Wee Jenny Cook) – East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire.
CARER OF THE YEAR
Nell Graham (Portobello Monday Centre) – Portobello, Edinburgh
Maw’s Mafia (The EK Hangout) – East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire
Anne Swartz (Scottish Kinship Care Alliance) – Dumbarton, W. Dunbartonshire.
YOUNG REAL HERO OF THE YEAR
Danii McArthur (Young Carer) – Barrhead, Glasgow
Mitchell Kinnen(Bright Lights Theatre Group) – Blantyre, South Lanarkshire
The Volunteers of the Glasgow 77th (Disabled) Scout Group – Glasgow.
HERO ANIMAL OF THE YEAR
Barra the Dog (K9 Search and Recovery Scotland) –Luss, Argyll & Bute
Sid the Horse (Aberdeen RDA) – Milltimber, Aberdeen
Ben the Dog (Therapet) – Old Meldrum, Aberdeenshire.
For more information, visit www.stv.tv/realheroes
or get involved on Twitter #scotlandsrealheroes
or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/scotrealheroes
