Two Paisley charities have been shortlisted for ScottishPower Foundation Awards for making a positive impact on people and communities.
Finding Your Feet has been shortlisted for its work to support Scottish amputees along with Street League which has been shortlisted for its Head – Body – Future online employment and sport programme.
The charity, which was set up by Lochwinnoch mum Cor Hutton when she became a quadruple amputee as a result of sepsis, provides a welcoming environment where people feel accepted and empowered and has been working tirelessly to redesign its offering during the pandemic to ensure it could continue to offer support online and via telephone.
MORE NEWS FROM THE PAISLEY DAILY EXPRESS
Now in its sixth year, the charity helps over 800 people across Scotland through social, physical, and emotional support programmes, with 70 per cent of activities held in Renfrewshire.
(Image: Supplied by stripe communications)
The charity’s Business Development Manager, Fiona Conway, has also been nominated for the Charity Champion Award for her passion and commitment, which has seen her drive forward plans to move to larger premises at St James’ House to help even more people in communities across the country.
They are two of 14 UK charities competing for a share of £30,000 as part of this year’s Awards.
Street League, which uses the power of sport to tackle poverty and give young people the opportunities they need to succeed, has been shortlisted for its ‘Head – Body – Future’ online employment and sport programme.
It helped understand and meet the needs of young people during lockdown and ensured they had money for food and data bundles to access online support and apply for jobs.
The ScottishPower Foundation Awards 2021 are open to recipients of this year’s ScottishPower Foundation funding, with almost £1.2 million awarded to a wide range of outstanding charities.
The annual Awards – now in their eighth year – are an opportunity for funded charities to apply for additional funding, with each category winner receiving £5,000 and the runners up awarded £2,500.
Nominated projects are judged in four categories: 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.
Finding Your Feet is shortlisted in the Charity Champion and Innovation categories.
A spokesperson for Finding Your Feet said: “Being shortlisted for the ScottishPower Foundation Awards is truly humbling as there’s so much amazing work being delivered across the third sector under really challenging circumstances.
“We’re committed to continuing to enhance our services by creating a safe and welcoming place for the amputees we support to return to and helping them thrive after limb loss and it’s fantastic to be recognised for our efforts.”
Street League is shortlisted in the Innovation category.
Joe Flack, Corporate Partnerships Manager at Street League, said: “We have been able to reach so many people online with our Head – Body – Future programme, which has been incredible. We’ve had a great impact – which isn’t easy to say during a global pandemic.
“We’re thrilled to have been shortlisted in the ScottishPower Foundation Awards and wish our fellow nominees the best of luck come Awards Day.”
The shortlist was selected by a judging panel made up of experts from ScottishPower and the skills and education sector.
This year’s judges are Arthur McIvor, senior client manager for Energy & Utility Skills; Marina Livingstone, programme director at Strathclyde University Business School; Sheila Duncan, human resources director for ScottishPower and Melanie Hill, executive officer and trustee of the ScottishPower Foundation.
Melanie said: “Finding Your Feet, Street League and all this year’s shortlisted projects are a great example of the difference the ScottishPower Foundation’s funding can make and the tremendous efforts and lengths our supported charities go to in order to make a positive impact in the lives of their beneficiaries.
“Despite all the challenges of the past 18 months, they have continued to support, educate and inspire people and communities across the country and go above and beyond to help others and make a difference.
“The commitment, resilience and creativity of these fantastic charities is exactly what the ScottishPower Foundation Awards are all about and it’s a privilege to be able provide additional funding to help them keep up their invaluable work. I can’t wait to see the winners and runners-up revealed on Awards Day.”
Finding Your Feet and Street League will find out if they have been successful when the winners and runners-up are announced on ScottishPower’s Awards Day on Friday, September 3.
