Sponsored content: looking for nominations for those who have saved, improved or enriched the lives of others or society as a whole
The Robert Burns Humanitarian Award (RBHA), supported by South Ayrshire Council and Destination South Ayrshire, recognises courage, commitment, inspiration and hands-on humanitarian efforts from people of any nationality, race, age or gender.
This is a globally respected honour bestowed annually on a group or individual who shows selflessness and dedication in a bid to save, enrich or improve the lives of others through the protection and promotion of human rights and work to deliver social reform.
Named in honour of Scotland’s son, Robert Burns, this much sought after humanitarian award applauds the efforts of people who bring hope and inspiration, often in desperate situations, and help change lives for the better.
2026 will recognise our 25th Robert Burns Humanitarian Award Winner.
We are looking for nominations for those who have saved, improved or enriched the lives of others or society as a whole, through personal self-sacrifice, selfless service or direct humanitarian work. It doesn’t have to be someone you know; it could be someone you’ve read about, someone you’ve seen on TV, or someone you’ve long admired.
Our current winner is Garth Knox (pictured above). Garth won the prestigious award during a special online ceremony which took place to celebrate Burns Night.
Garth has dedicated over four decades to volunteering with charitable organisations. Since 2011, he has been a key member of GlobalMedic, an Ontario-based non-governmental organisation specialising in disaster relief.
He is the only volunteer in the organisation's history to permanently relocate, spending nearly 1,000 days in Moldova by the end of 2024 to support Ukrainian refugees and host families affected by the ongoing conflict.
On receiving the award, Garth said: "I am elated to have the spotlight shine on the many, many people, the world over, who make the world a better place through daily acts of kindness and compassion. Such is the currency of volunteerism. On a personal level, I am both humbled and filled with gratitude for this recognition. I'm still in shock!"
The Robert Burns Humanitarian Award winner receives the equivalent of 1759 guineas – a sum which signifies the year of the Bard’s birth and the coinage in circulation at the time – equating to £1,800 in today’s currency.
Councillor Brian Connolly, leader of South Ayrshire Council, said: "The RBHA is a powerful reminder that one person’s humanity can spark real and lasting change. Every year, we hear stories that restore our faith in the goodness of people. This award is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to those who give so much of themselves to others. I would encourage everyone to take a moment and nominate someone whose actions deserve to be recognised."
Nominations for the RBHA 2026 can be made online at www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/robert-burns-award until 4pm on Friday 26th September 2025. The 2026 RBHA winner will be announced on Thursday 25th January 2026.
