Making your mind up is difficult in the #ScotCharityAwards

This week SCVO has announced the 31 finalists who have made it through to compete in the Scottish Charity Awards. From cracking campaigns and perfect partnerships to charity champions, prepare to be impressed and face a difficult decision choosing the winner of the People’s Choice Award which is voted for by members of the public. Voting seems to be flavour of the month with the looming general election (which I’ll not mention again in this blog!) and the parody of democracy that is the Eurovision song contest.

Last year, nearly 20,000 people visited the awards website to vote for their favourite finalist.

Every year in Eurovision we see regional bloc voting, with Greece and Crete, the Nordic states and the Balkan countries all awarding their neighbours the maximum dix points. And we have increasingly seen this trend in the voting pattern for the People’s Choice Award. Last year, nearly 20,000 people visited the awards website to vote for their favourite finalist. There was a clear winner in terms of online votes, however it wasn’t until the paper votes “were counted and verified” as Davina McCall would say that Fife Gingerbread catapulted into the lead. Fife Gingerbread took to the streets in their local community with the paper voting forms, wearing colourful “vote for us” t-shirts to not only gain additional votes but to promote the fantastic work the organisation does across the region of Fife. So this year don’t be surprised if you are approached by someone asking you to vote for your local organisation or local charity champion to win this prestigious award. Organisations will be hoping for maximum votes both online and offline. If you have a favourite from our finalists make sure they don’t do a Jemini and receive nul points, make sure it’s a Bucks Fizz year for them when "making your mind up”. Vote now!