The 17 projects will stage a variety of events and initiatives the length and breadth of Britain, bringing real benefits to communities across the country
Charitable projects serving communities right across the country are set to receive a funding boost of more than £1 million from the ScottishPower Foundation.
Backing subjects as diverse as wildlife conservation and science-themed education to mental health awareness and theatrical productions, the 17 projects selected will stage a variety of events and initiatives the length and breadth of Britain, bringing real benefits to communities across the country.
The £1m fund was announced trustee and executive officer of the ScottishPower Foundation, Ann McKechin, at the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow.
The hospice, which offers palliative care to people with life-limiting or life-shortening illnesses, is one of the organisations to benefit from this year’s funding and will use the foundation’s backing to fund a new pamper suite at its brand new £21m home in Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park due to open later this year.
The new hairdressing salon will aim to boost patients’ wellbeing and body image following the emotional effects of treatment and medication.
To mark the donation, patients and staff enjoyed a live music concert staged by another of the ScottishPower Foundation’s recipients this year, Music in Hospitals & Care.
The concert was led by musician Charlie Gorman, who performed a series of songs for patients. The charity brings the feel-good power of music to thousands of people in healthcare settings across the UK, and this year aims to extend its reach to those based in more remote areas with the help of the donation.
Each of the 17 charities to receive funding from the ScottishPower Foundation will deliver events, information or campaigns that directly benefit people living in their local communities or regions.
Other projects planned for this year include a theatre production by the National Theatre of Scotland, a marine conservation initiative by RSPB Scotland and STEM learning programmes by National Museums Scotland and Dumfries House.
Ann McKechin said: “Applications for this year’s funding blew us away with the incredible and diverse work happening around the UK, and to see the effects of funding in action here today is extremely moving.
“The ScottishPower Foundation is proud to be able to support these projects by helping them to realise their vision of making a positive difference to the lives of people in their communities.”
Rhona Baillie, chief executive of the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, commented: “This year’s donation will allow us to complete our vision by installing a hairdressing salon where patients can be treated and helped to feel more like themselves again.”
Claire Bennett, director at Music in Hospitals & Care Scotland, said: “Seeing patients getting lost in music, singing together and taking part in the concerts is heartwarming and we’re delighted to be able to extend the reach of live music to people of all ages in various healthcare settings this year.”
Projects funded by the ScottishPower Foundation during 2018 include:
Dumfries House Trust -Dumfries House is an 18th century stately home in East Ayrshire. Its Engineering Education Centre provides experiential indoor and outdoor learning for primary and early secondary school students, aimed to help inspire and engage young people in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Funding from the ScottishPower Foundation will help to subsidise school visits from pupils in the South West of Scotland and allow for development and growth of the Centre.
Young Enterprise Scotland -Young Enterprise Scotland’s mission is to inspire young people to learn and succeed through enterprise. Funding from the ScottishPower Foundation will support the project’s Circular Economy Challenge, an exciting and innovative educational project which will prepare the enterprising young minds of today for the economy of tomorrow, including developing and marketing their own product or service which adheres to circular economy principles.
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds(RSPB) Scotland -RSPB is the UK’s largest nature conservation charity and exists to tackle the issues that threaten our spectacular natural environment. RSPB’s Dolphinwatch project, based out of Aberdeen, gives people the chance to see these charismatic creatures and learn more about them and funding will enable RSPB to set up a brand new school and community engagement project across the city; inspiring a deep and lasting connection to marine wildlife and a passion to protect it.
National Museums Scotland -National Museums Scotland aims to engage children and young people around Scotland, reducing inequality and address the educational attainment gap through access to high-quality science learning activities, and to move towards realising its vision of becoming one of Scotland’s leading centres for science engagement. Funding from the ScottishPower Foundation will enable the Museums to enhance the highly successful Get Energised Programme which is widely recognised by teachers as an excellent and engaging STEM initiative, engage with audiences with STEM across its museums and through digital channels and extend its new Schools Outreach programme to engage more hard-to-reach audiences beyond Edinburgh.
National Theatre of Scotland -The National Theatre of Scotland exists to produce and create world-class theatre that reaches out across Scotland and beyond. Funding from the ScottishPower Foundation will support Futureproof – a Scotland-wide festival of performance created by young people, from different backgrounds and communities, working alongside internationally acclaimed theatre artists. Futureproof will be a multi-art form, multi-platform performance event, in celebration of Year of Young People 2018, taking place in ten areas across Scotland in September and October 2018.
Music in Hospitals & Care -Music in Hospitals & Care delivers high-quality concerts - performed by professional musicians – to thousands of people in healthcare settings across the whole of the UK. They work in hospitals, hospices, care homes, day centres and special schools, and their music touches the mind, body and soul of their audiences. Funding from the ScottishPower Foundation will support the organisation’s project: Live Music Off the Grid! The initiative which aims to develop and extend the charity’s reach to areas across the UK where they have identified gaps in service provision.
The Outward Bound Trust -The Outward Bound Trust is an educational charity that exists to unlock the potential in young people through learning and adventure in the wild. Funding from the ScottishPower Foundation will enable the trust to continue its work with Young Carers through a new project New Adventures, New Beginnings, where they will take part in an Outward Bound Activity Day in their local area, followed by a five day residential trip together at the Loch Eil centre. All of the participants will attend a celebration event to share their experience with friends and family, and six of the young people will be selected to go on to participate in a summer programme.
The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice -The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice has been delivering free specialist palliative care in Glasgow for people aged eighteen years and over with terminal illnesses, and providing support for their families and carers for over thirty years. The ScottishPower Foundation has already funded three complimentary therapy rooms, and funding this year will complete the final room in the pamper suite, the hairdressing salon.
Alzheimer Scotland -Alzheimer Scotland believes nobody should face dementia alone. Its Dementia Friends programme, which is supported by the ScottishPower Foundation, aims to improve the public understanding of, and empathy for, dementia, so that people with dementia can instead feel supported, accepted, and welcomed in their communities. In 2018, Alzheimer Scotland will continue mobilising many more people to significantly increase the number of Dementia Friends in Scotland.
