Scottish Charity Awards winners - 2012

Alzheimer Scotland wins Scottish Charity of the Year 2012

Alzheimer Scotland has been named Charity of the Year at the 2012 Scottish Charity Awards. The organisation was recognised for making major progress in tackling the difficulties arising from Scotland’s aging population, particularly dramatic increases in the number of Scots living with dementia.

Around 80,000 Scots currently have dementia however that number is expected to increase by 50 per cent to 120,000 in the next 20 years.

The last year has seen Alzheimer Scotland part fund the creation of specialist dementia nurses in every health board area in Scotland, train Scotland’s first 100 dementia champions and launch a Dementia Research Centre in partnership with the University of Edinburgh.

Its effective lobbying work persuaded the Scottish Government to commit to guaranteeing a year of post‐diagnostic support to all new dementia patients in Scotland. The charity was presented with its award in front of 400 guests at the Scottish Charity Awards ceremony at Glasgow’s Old Fruitmarket on Thursday.

Henry Simmons, Alzheimer Scotland chief executive, said: “We would like to say how delighted we are to win
this prestigious award. “We have only been able to achieve such strong progress thanks to the thousands of people who support us, the dedication and hard work of all our staff and volunteers and to positive and supportive partnerships with
key policy makers at all levels.”

The Scottish Charity Awards 2012 saw six charities honoured in six different categories.

For the first time a new category was introduced that gave the public and people working in the third sector the chance to vote for their favourite of all the shortlisted candidates.

Down’s Syndrome Scotland and the Celtic Foundation, who were shortlisted in the partnership category, received the most public votes to win the People’s Choice Heart and Soul Award.

The project involves professional coaches from Celtic Football Club providing football classes for children with Downs Syndrome.

The category saw nearly 10,000 people from around the world voting for their favourite. Pandora Summerfield, chief executive of Down’s Syndrome Scotland, said: “We are humbled by all our passionate supporters and hope that we can continue raising awareness of Down’s syndrome sports and the importance of healthy activities for people with Down’s syndrome.”

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell added: “The Celtic Foundation is delighted to partner with Down’s Syndrome Scotland in this initiative, it has been a great success, helping many young people build new skills and friendships”.

This year’s Charity Champion is Bill Learmonth. Bill has campaigned tirelessly for the rights of people with learning disabilities since his daughter was born with Down Syndrome in 1968. He has also been a long‐standing board member of
Enable Scotland.

“I am absolutely delighted to accept this award on behalf of all those who work with and care for people who have a learning disability. I am grateful to those who think I am worthy of receiving this award”, said Bill.

The Partnership Award went to Sue Ryder Care and the Scottish Prison Service. In a bid to reform the image of the traditional Sue Ryder charity shops volunteers the two bodies last year launched a volunteering scheme for Scottish prisoners. The project has seen amazing results, with 97 per cent of shop managers saying they would recommend
the Prison Volunteer Placement scheme to other shops.

The Scottish Youth Parliament won the Campaign of the Year award with its Love Equally campaign. The campaign joined LGBT groups to persuade Scottish Politicians to back a bill for gay marriage.

Its vibrant St Valentine’s Day march down Edinburgh’s Royal Mile to the Scottish Parliament involved over 1,000 young people.

The Community Action Award, designed to recognise grassroots activities in Scottish communities, was won by Skye and Lochalsh Young Carers. The project has seen young carers in the rural community work with public sector partners to
raise awareness of the difficulties that young people who care for loved ones face.

The awards are organised by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO). Alison Elliot, convener of SCVO and chair of the Scottish Charity Awards judging panel, said: “The Scottish Charity Awards present us with an excellent opportunity to celebrate in style the many achievements of everyone gathered here over the previous twelve months. “In Scotland we have one of the biggest and most vibrant charity sectors in the world, which works to make Scotland a better place to live and support some of the most vulnerable members of our communities.”