Finalists 2026
We are pleased to announce this year's Scottish Charity Awards finalists. The shortlist includes 41 inspirational individuals, projects and organisations from across Scotland’s voluntary sector.
All finalists
Victim Support Scotland - It's the final chance of getting to the truth
This campaign successfully changed Parole Board for Scotland rules in cases of murder where remains have never been recovered. This now means that if this information has not been shared, then it must be considered at Parole. Crucially, for families this offers a further chance...
Dundee Dragons Wheelchair Sports Club
This year, we strengthened our position as Tayside’s only wheelchair sports club by expanding inclusive opportunities through wheelchair sport and adaptive cycling. Despite losing a training venue, we secured a better facility and maintained strong participation across diverse...
Megan's Space
Megan’s Space is a community-led charity working to prevent youth suicide through accessible mental health support and education. Founded following the loss, by suicide, of Megan Copeland, it addresses critical gaps in provision. In 2025/26, despite limited resources, the charity...
The Big House SCIO
The Big House Multibank tackles poverty and waste by redistributing surplus goods from retailers to families across Scotland. Since launching in 2022, it has delivered over 4 million essential items, now supporting around 2,500 families every week. In the past year, distribution...
Advocacy Western Isles
Over the past year, Advocacy Western Isles has strengthened and expanded its free, independent advocacy service across the Western Isles, delivering one-to-one and collective advocacy so people are heard, respected and involved in decisions affecting their lives. Following team...
Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust - Don't Neglect the Night
Buglife’s “Don’t Neglect the Night” campaign highlights the overlooked value of nocturnal ecosystems and pushes for their inclusion in conservation policy. The campaign won rapid cross-party political support after launch, prompting parliamentary questions on light pollution and...
McKenzie Rayner - Midlothian Community Action
McKenzie’s volunteering journey is a powerful example of resilience and community impact. During a difficult period in her life, she chose to give back, McKenzie has supported 21 organisations across environmental conservation, community wellbeing, food support, heritage...
WithYou
"Without WithYou, I'd be dead. My kids wouldn't have a dad." That's one father in Dundee. It's also the story of thousands of people we supported across Scotland last year. Drug deaths fell to their lowest level since 2017. WithYou's teams played their part in that. Across 1...
Ian Stirton - Greener Kirkcaldy
Ian has been Greener Kirkcaldy’s Treasurer for 13 years, providing calm advice and clear thinking alongside timely humour. When he joined, the charity had no reserves, a handful of staff and unstable funding. By shifting from reacting to risk to responsible financial planning...
Susan Griffin - Glenurquhart Rural Community Association (GURCA)
In her 8 years as Chair, Susan's drive and vision have transformed GURCA into a lauded and respected Development Trust. Under her leadership GURCA has successfully undertaken Community Asset Transfers, set up the award winning Bencom Loch Ness Hub and secured funding for a wide...
Isle of Luing Community Trust
Isle of Luing Community Trust turned bold vision into reality this year, securing £2.1 million to reopen Cullipool Slate Quarry. This 25-year enterprise promises sustainable jobs, vital income, and climate protection through shoreline reinforcement revitalising our island...
Jenny Black - Fife Pride
Jenny has been a dedicated member of Fife Pride since 2019, demonstrating unwavering commitment as both a volunteer and ally to the LGBTQIA+ community. Now serving as Accessibility Coordinator, she uses her lived experience of a hidden disability to advocate for inclusive...
David Wright - Govan Housing Association
David Wright is an exceptional community volunteer whose daily litter‑picking efforts make Govan cleaner, safer and more welcoming for everyone. Despite living with ongoing pain, he continues to show remarkable commitment, taking pride in improving the environment for local...
Social Flock
Social Flock's aims are clear; protect the planet and clothe our community. Redistribution allows us to reduce the climate impact of fast fashion and fulfil our community's human Right to Clothing. We have been building a cyclical clothing economy for the people of Perth and...
Dogs for Good & Inverclyde Royal Hospital – Community Dog Stroke Support Partnership
Dogs for Good & Inverclyde Royal Hospital – Community Dog Stroke Support is a partnership between Dogs for Good and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, transforming rehabilitation through the power of human–dog connection. Specially trained dogs support stroke recovery by motivating...
Aberdeen Cyrenians - Aberdeen Tasking & Activation Partnership (ATAP)
Launched in July 2025, ATAP brings together housing associations, third sector organisations and the local authority to prevent homelessness through early intervention, lived experience insight, cash-first support, relational leadership and innovative technology tools that help...
Norinemindeyes Culture Connect
Last year was transformative for Norinemindeyes Culture Connect Incorporated, marked by significant growth and deeper community impact. We were honoured as finalists for the North Edinburgh Community Awards, recognising our dedication and expanding reach. We launched Edinburgh’s...
Keith Manson - Reach Lanarkshire Autism
Keith is an outstanding candidate for Employee of the Year, having made a significant impact at REACH Lanarkshire since joining last year. With a strong management background, he quickly developed expertise in Autism Spectrum Disorder to better support members. He expanded the...
Magpie ( Part of Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action)
This year has been transformative for Magpie, strengthening both climate impact and community support. We diverted 60 tonnes of items from landfill, a 50% increase, by expanding reuse initiatives and our gifting service, which provided 275 essential items to people in crisis. New...
Elaine Crichton - Break the Silence
Break the Silence nominated its recently retired chair, Elaine Crichton, as trustee of the year in recognition of the scale of change she effected during her tenure and particularly over the last 12 months. Elaine was appointed to ‘steady the ship’ - to strengthen governance...
Space at The Broomhouse Hub & the Edinburgh International Festival - Edinburgh International Festival in Space
Space @ The Broomhouse Hub is Edinburgh International Festival’s (EIF) first Community Connections Hub, building a deep, place‑based partnership focused on connection, skills and inclusive cultural participation. Together, we removed barriers to engagement, enabling hundreds of...
Amma Birth Companions
This year, Amma moved from influencing Scotland's maternity system to co-authoring it, becoming part of how Scotland talks about maternity care. Amma's CEO co-chaired a Scottish Government working group that developed the Action Plan on Racialised Health Inequalities in Maternity...
Alan Bailey - Bedrule Church Future
Alan Bailey brought the BCF team together in January 2025, with the aim of saving Bedrule Church, for the Rule Water community, so it could continue as a place of worship, of spiritual well-being and advance the historical and cultural heritage of the local area. With determined...
Who Cares? Scotland - Action on Advocacy
As the national membership organisation for Care Experienced people, we know first-hand the real-life impact of advocacy. With lots of decisions being made by professionals around them, advocacy empowers a Care Experienced person to have their views heard and rights upheld. That...
Crail Community Partnership
The Crail Community Partnership arose after a two year long community consultation about our future. Maintaining and enhancing our natural environment and promoting sustainability in Crail came top of a big list of wants. Since then we have acquired 15 ha of land creating new...
Edinburgh Garden Partners
Being part of Edinburgh Garden Partners makes people feel more connected. In 2025, 55 volunteers spent 4,264 hours in their shared gardens: turning neglected spaces into productive plots and forming lasting friendships with older and disabled Garden Owners. Having a garden...
Scottish Environment LINK - Scotland Loves Nature
Scotland’s nature is struggling, and we urgently need to help it recover. Scottish Environment LINK launched the Scotland Loves Nature campaign to call for legally binding government targets to restore nature. Thousands of people supported the campaign by writing to their MSPs...
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Scott Montgomery - The Killie Community
Scott journey from participant to Hub Operations Lead is an extraordinary example of how compassion and selflessness can transform one life into a catalyst for changing many more. After losing his son, Scott found purpose through The Killie Community and now leads programmes...
Letham Climate Challenge
LCC have a 16+ year track-record of being a responsive, respected and deeply appreciated community organisation. We are based in an area of high deprivation doubled with the cost-of-living crisis. By intertwining our aims of climate intervention with anti-poverty measures, we are...
The Junction, Granton Youth, Wester Hailes Youth Agency, Canongate Youth & 6VT - Time to Talk
Time to Talk has made a significant difference for young people and families across Edinburgh. As a result of the service, young people report improved wellbeing, increased confidence, and stronger family relationships. The partnership has developed an innovative, city‑wide...
Sarah Peacock - Mark Williams Foundation
After founder Nicola Williams' husband Mark passed away, Sarah became the driving force behind turning grief into The Mark Williams Foundation. In under a year, and as the only employee, she has raised over £170,000, built robust governance, forged high-impact partnerships, and...
Care4Calais Scotland & Passion4Fusion - Saturday Football
The Football Programme is a partnership between Care4Calais Scotland and Passion4Fusion, developed to support asylum seekers and refugees facing isolation, trauma and uncertainty. Using football as a tool for engagement, it creates a safe, inclusive space where men can connect...
Alison Gildea - Grey Matters Active Ageing
Alison Gildea is the Founder and Manager of Grey Matters Active Ageing where she is redefining what it means to grow older. Her work tackles loneliness and isolation for people aged 60 plus by creating opportunities that challenge outdated stereotypes and unlock confidence...
Beyond Srebrenica
Beyond Srebrenica is run entirely by volunteers, with no paid staff. Throughout 2025, we led a sustained campaign of remembrance and education to mark the 30th anniversary of the Bosnian genocide, and a decade of our work challenging hatred and prejudice. We hosted commemorations...
Jim Cassidy - Men Matter Scotland
As a small organisation, we are reliant on volunteers to deliver our day to day activity in our hub - supporting members to engage with our programme and helping keep the hub running smoothly when staff are supporting men in crisis. As an organisation led by lived experience, all...
