The finalists for this year’s Scottish Charity Awards have been announced. Run annually by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, the awards are open to any voluntary organisation, charity, community group or individual charity volunteer or staff member, and celebrate the life-changing work they do and their dedication to making Scotland a better place to live. The shortlist includes 40 individuals and organisations from across the third sector in Scotland, and members of the public can have their say by voting for their favourite entry in the People’s Choice Award – by visiting www.scvo.scot/vote - before the 18 May 2018. The full shortlist includes: Charity of the year

• Calum’s Cabin
• Blood Bikes Scotland Emergency Volunteer Service
• Team Jak Foundation
• East Ayrshire Carers Centre
• 3D Drumchapel
• Scottish Women’s Aid

Celebrating communities

• Autism Rocks (Fife)
• Caithness KLICS
• Larkhall & District Volunteer Group (LDVG)
• Inverness Foodstuff
• Point and Sandwick Trust

Charity champion

• Fiona Shapcott, Kids Love Clothes
• Jenny Hastings, Support in Mind Scotland
• Coady Dorman, Bliss Scotland
• Bill Scott, Marie Curie
• Fiona Dickens, Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland
• Sara Hawkins, Projekt 42

Leading light

• David Duke, Street Soccer Scotland
• Nicola Welsh, SANDS Lothian
• Ewan Aitken, Cyrenians
• Jay Hogarty, Chest Heart, & Stroke Scotland

Cracking campaign

• How do you see Scotland? – RNIB Scotland & Diabetes Scotland
• CPR – Let’s Be Ready – Young Scot
• PrEP for Scotland – HIV Scotland
• Schiehalion Appeal: Help our kids beat cancer – Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity

Pioneering project

• Personal safety courses for the blind & visually impaired - The Scottish Centre for Personal Safety
• Move More Aberdeen - Sport Aberdeen
• Fearless - Sacro
• Let’s Talk - Quarriers
• The Dog Project - Paws for Progress CIC
• Breaking Barriers - ENABLE Scotland

Demonstrating digital

• Scottish Book Trust
• Addaction
• Shelter Scotland
• Marie Curie
• Lifelink

Terrific trustee

• Robert Nolan – Deafblind Scotland
• Gillie Davidson – Scottish Love in Action
• Margarita Sweeney-Baird – Inclusive Skating
• Catriona Patterson – 2050 Climate Group

Winners of all categories will be announced at the award ceremony on 14 June 2018 at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. The evening will begin with a red carpet welcome for guests, a drinks reception with networking followed by a three course dinner. The highlight will be the glittering awards ceremony, where 500 guests will hear more about out finalists before the winners are revealed. Click here to book a place or table at the awards. This year, SCVO are also offering one lucky voter the chance to win two tickets to attend the Scottish Charity Awards ceremony! After voting closes one of you will be selected at random to receive 2 tickets for the event (costs for travel and accommodation not included) so you too can enjoy the red carpet welcome, drinks reception, three course meal & award presentations. Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive, SCVO, said: “I am so looking forward to my first Scottish Charity Awards as Chief Executive of SCVO. We know there is fantastic work going on in our communities thanks to third sector organisations, from national charities to local volunteer groups, and the Awards are a great way of celebrating and recognising those involved. As always, the calibre of this year’s finalists highlights not only their creativity, tenacity and innovation, but also the diverse variety of charitable work across the country. All of our finalists are so deserving and I would encourage people to support their favourite by voting in the People’s Choice Award.”

Vote for your favourite finalist now!