A selection of stories from communities and voluntary organisations across Scotland
Shortlist announced for charity’s picture book prize
The shortlist for the 2019 Bookbug Picture Book Prize has been announced, and the vote is now open to schools and the public. The Bookbug mascot was joined by pupils at Hillhead Primary School in Glasgow to launch the annual prize. Morag Hood, Alan Windram, Chloe Holwill-Hunter and Emily MacKenzie have been shortlisted for the award which was established to celebrate the most popular picture books by Scottish authors and illustrators, and is run by Scottish Book Trust. Children across the country can vote for the winner by submitting a class vote or via the Scottish Book Trust website.
Volunteers help bats to hangout in South Lanarkshire
Scottish Wildlife Trust volunteers have completed work to secure and upgrade a bat hut at Upper Nethan Gorge Wildlife Reserve in South Lanarkshire. The hut was converted from a disused railway building hut in the early 1990s but was damaged by vandals in 2016. A large wooden board has been used to create a divide and keep half of the hut at a relatively constant temperature. 14 new bat boxes have also been installed in addition to a reinforced metal door.
Construction workers dig deep for Young Enterprise Scotland
Kind-hearted staff from a leading construction company took time out of their working day to help young people learn more about the benefits of practical enterprise experience. A group of five staff from Morrison Construction volunteered at Young Enterprise Scotland’s (YES) social enterprise base at Rouken Glen as part of their community benefits programme –,a scheme which encourages colleagues to volunteer at local charities and organisations. The workers from Morrison Construction assisted the YES Works team in the creation of a new builder’s yard area, which will help the social enterprise to grow and develop its service. YES Works, founded by Young Enterprise Scotland, aims to provide sustainable employment opportunities and training to young people from less advantaged backgrounds.
Supermarket raises £316,000 for Samaritans
Scotmid Co-operative has raised £315,000 for Samaritans during a year-long fundraising drive by the community retailer – funding 63,000 calls for the charity. Employees, members and customers from Scotmid, Semichem, Lakes & Dales Co-op and Scotmid Funerals took part in different activities over the past 12 months in a bid to raise money for the charity. Events included an indoor cycleathon with Mark Beaumont, a yoga event with Adam Husler, quizzes and even a sponsored zip slide Stores across Scotland also took part in Samaritans’ Brew Monday and sold copies of the Radio Forth One Kid in the Kitchen joke books and a limited edition pack of Grahams Cupcakes.
HMP Castle Huntly on target to fulfil Poppyscotlannd pledge
Poppyscotland’s national fundraising campaign to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War has captured the imagination of the nation, and none more so than an enthusiastic group of supporters at HMP Castle Huntly. The Dundee-based prison’s community has undertaken various challenges in order to reach The Poppy Pledge target of £1,918, which they must fulfil by Remembrance Sunday. Paul Elliott, a veterans in custody support officer at the facility, explained: “After a discussion with the governor, who was fully supportive, we got the go-ahead to take on The 1918 Poppy Pledge. Our community has risen to the challenge in a number of ways and we’ve already raised £1,300 of the £1,918 target. Cakes and biscuits are being made in our training kitchen and are sold at the family visits once a month. I undertook a 440-mile challenge in which I got on my virtual bike and cycled along the Western Front in the gymnasium during the late shift breaks. I was joined on the journey by colleagues. And someone has rowed more than one million metres on a rowing machine, while others have run, cycled and rowed 1,918 miles. All in all, it is been a great effort by so many people at Castle Huntly.”
Cornerstone celebrates colleague’s 25th anniversaries
Cornerstone, one of Scotland’s largest charities and leading provider of services for people with disabilities and other support needs, recently celebrated an afternoon of recognition with six of its colleagues who have reached their 25th anniversary with the organisation. Edel Harris, chief executive since 2008, and who only just recently celebrated her own 10th anniversary, hosted the event on Monday, 27August at The Marcliffe Hotel in Aberdeen.
Shopping centre becomes a Zero Waste Scotland ambassador
Glasgow Fort has officially become Scotland’s first shopping centre to join Zero Waste Scotland’s Resource Efficiency Ambassador programme. The charity launched the Resource Efficient Scotland programme in 2013 to help small to medium sized businesses and organisations save money and energy by using resources more efficiently. With 4 million visits per annum and almost 100 brands on site, Glasgow Fort has joined the likes of the National Library of Scotland, the Scottish Parliament and Glasgow Airport by making a series of pledges to improve its own sustainability and encourage the community to cut waste. Glasgow Provan MSP Ivan McKee joined Glasgow Fort centre director Phil Goodman and Zero Waste Scotland’s Warren McIntyre for the official announcement.
Scottish social ventures awarded £500,000 of investment
Cabinet secretary for the third sector Aileen Campbell joined a celebratory event held at Standard Life House in Edinburgh to mark a £500,000 investment and business support into 13 Scottish social ventures by Big Issue Invest. The period poverty-battling Hey Girls were one of the social ventures that successfully completed the three month Power Up Programme. Hey Girls recently announced that their products were hitting the shelves of supermarket giants Asda and Waitrose. Hey Girls will also be a major provider in the Scottish Government’s initiative to provide free sanitary products all pupils and students, announced last week.
Dementia charity urges people to sign up for Edinburgh Kiltwalk and support pioneering research
A charity is calling on people to help make strides in the fight against dementia by taking on the Edinburgh Kiltwalk to raise money for pioneering research. Alzheimer’s Research UK is urging people to sign up for the event on Sunday 16 September, which is the final of the four Kiltwalks in Scotland this year. The Kiltwalk is one of Scotland’s biggest annual fundraisers, attracting 14,000 walkers last year and raising £2.5 million for nearly 800 charities. There are three distances to choose from – the five-mile Wee Wander, 15.5-mile Big Stroll and 24-mile Mighty Stride – and the Hunter Foundation boosts fundraising totals by 40%.
