Scottish Charity Awards winners - 2014

Young people’s theatre group wins top title at Scottish Charity Awards

Toonspeak Young People’s Theatre has been named Charity of the Year at the 2014 Scottish Charity Awards.

The charity offers free drama and theatre activities to young people living in disadvantaged areas of Glasgow.

Despite a long-term grant coming to an end, and a reduction in core funding from Glasgow City Council in the last year, Toonspeak managed to expand its work to other areas of the city. Working with a record 500 young people, it also launched a new website and put on its most ambitious production to date.

Toonspeak, launched in 1987, also introduced a new artistic programme last year.

Jasmine Maine, young board member of Toonspeak Young People’s Theatre, said: “We are thrilled to win this incredible award.

“We would like to thank our staff, volunteers and board for all their hard work in making our organisation even better over the last year.

“But most of all thanks to all our talented and imaginative young participants who really make Toonspeak Young People’s Theatre.”

The Charity of the Year award was presented at the annual Scottish Charity Awards dinner, organised by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, which was held in Edinburgh’s Assembly Rooms on Thursday.

Awards were presented in seven categories. Lone-parent family charity Fife Gingerbread topped a public poll, in which a record 19,000 votes were cast, to win the People’s Choice award.

In a one off award, to celebrate the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, Ravelrig Riding for the Disabled rode off with the Sporting Chance award. Run entirely by a team of 120 volunteers it offers people with mental, learning, physical or emotional disabilities the opportunity to learn to horse ride for free.

Gail McKeitch, volunteer branch officer for The National Autistic Society in Ellon was named Charity Champion for her work which helps 100 local people affected by the disability.

Glasgow’s Caravan Project which provides one-week respite holidays to families living in poverty in the north-west of Glasgow, was awarded the Celebrating Communities award.

The biggest change in support for care leavers in a generation was won as part of the Children and Young People Act, thanks to the campaigning work of Barnardo’s Scotland, Aberlour Childcare Trust and WhoCares? Scotland.

The coalition picked up the Cracking Campaign award in recognition of this.

Iconic children’s hero Oor Wullie helped The Kiltwalk charity and The Sunday Post newspaper to the Perfect Partnership award.

Their Join Oor Team campaign raised over a million pounds for Scottish charities by persuading people to take part in a Kiltwalk.

Shulah Allan, convener of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations which hosted the awards, said: “All of this year’s finalists are remarkable examples of how Scotland has one of the most vibrant and innovative third sectors in the world.

“The awards are all about celebrating the endless energy that these people channel into making Scotland a better place to live.”