​£30,000 up for grabs at ScottishPower Foundation Awards

A number of Scottish charities are in the running to win thousands of pounds in cash as finalists in the ScottishPower Foundation Awards.

Eight organisations which have each received funding from the foundation during 2016 are waiting to see if they will be awarded one of an additional four awards of £5,000 or one of four of £2,500.

Overall 21 non-profit projects throughout the UK are taking part in the awards with the Scottish nominees being Children's University Scotland, Music in Hospitals, Alzheimer Scotland, Scottish Huntington's, Perth Autism Support, 2050 Climate Group, Citizens Theatre and Maggies.

Winners and runners up in four categories will be decided by a panel of judges and announced on 21 September at a reception in Theatr Clwyd in Mold, Flintshire.

Ann Loughrey, trustee and executive officer of the ScottishPower Foundation, said: “Each year we work with projects that continue to motivate and impress us; we have all been touched by their great work and it’s only right we can give them something back.

“From supporting the young and old, to generally making our local communities brighter places, we are delighted to be welcoming such a fantastic mix of third sector organisations.

“The ScottishPower Foundation Awards is a perfect platform to shine a light on some truly inspirational people and we wish them every luck!”

The foundation was established in 2013, to support charitable projects throughout Britain. It provides funds to support initiatives that promote the advancement of education, environmental protection, citizenship and community development, arts, culture and science, as well as the prevention of poverty or disadvantage in local communities.

Last year, Erskine volunteer June Cameron won the Charity Champion Award and RSPB Scotland won the Community Impact/Engagement Award for its Abernethy Forest Restoration Project.