Scottish Charity Awards winners - 2008

CHARITY OF THE YEAR: (Left to right) Abigail Howard, Melba Quinn and Carron Garmory of the Wise Group join Scottish finance secretary John Swinney and Laurie Russell, Wise Group chief executive, to celebrate the social enterprise winning this year’s TFN Scottish Charity of the Year at Glasgow’s Crowne Plaza hotel.

A Glasgow man who was born pro foundly deaf and is now losing his sight has beaten off competition from Ranger’s captain Barry Ferguson and Big Brother Celebrity Hijack winner John Loughton to be named Scotland’s Charity Champion.

Stephen Joyce, an employee of Deafblind Scotland, scooped the Charity Champion award at this year’s Third Force News (TFN) Scottish Charity Awards for his dedication to improving the lives of deafblind people.

Joyce, who has Usher Syndrome, a genetic condition causing deafness and loss of vision, is currently training manager at the charity.

His work ensures deafblind people achieve their dreams and aspirations by getting the support and recognition necessary to live full and active lives.

The award is also a tribute to Stephen’s commitment to fearless fundraising, which has seen him abseil off the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow, and, earlier this year, become the first deafblind man to reach the summit of Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro.

Joyce said: “When I saw Andrew signing my name and realised that my name had been read out, I was delighted and
pleased to win.

“I feel that this award is for every deafblind person in Scotland and I am very honoured to receive it for that reason.”

The second TFN Scottish Charity Awards, known as the Tiffanies, were presented at Glasgow’s Crowne Plaza on Thursday at a celebratory dinner for Scotland’s voluntary sector.

Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisation’s convener Alison Elliot announced the winners, and Scotland’s finance secretary John Swinney presented awards.

Major Scottish social enterprise the Wise Group, which this year celebrated its 25th anniversary, picked up the Charity of the Year.

Other award winners were Shelter Scotland for its 30,000 homes campaign, Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop, which picked up the Community Action Award and RNIB Scotland’s Edinburgh Vision Support Centre which won the award for working in partnership with NHS Lothian and Edinburgh City Council Social Work department.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Alison Elliot said: “The Tiffanies go some way to recognise the great work that has gone on in the last year, including amazing fundraising feats, campaigns that have had an impact both at home and abroad, and the creation of vital services for people coping with difficulties such as ill health, poverty or learning disabilities.

“The judging panel had a very enjoyable, lively and at times heated debate over who should pick up this year’s awards. To be shortlisted in this process is great recognition of the work each of these organisations have carried out in the last year.”

Specially designed by Scottish artist Scott Irvine, the awards reflected the Third Force News colours and the V for voluntary sector.

Laurie Russell, chief executive of The Wise Group, added: “We are delighted to win this award in our 25th anniversary year. I hope that many more people are inspired to change their lives for the better just like the 25,000 people that Wise Group
staff have supported into work since 1983.”

The TFN Scottish Charity Awards were created in 2007 in a bid to honour some of the excellent work that is carried out in Scotland’s voluntary sector each year.