Clydesdale Bank Recognises Community Spirit in Scotland
Fifteen community groups across Scotland have been awarded a combined funding boost of £75,000 through the Clydesdale Bank Spirit of the Community Awards to recognise the important role they play in the local community.
Clydesdale Bank announced the substantial donations to voluntary groups including Deafblind Scotland, Scottish Environment Link and Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland at an awards ceremony in Glasgow on 13 June 2016 to recognise the charities and not for profit organisations which are going the extra mile.
Now in its fourth year, the awards programme aims to recognise charities and not for profit organisations for the invaluable contributions they make to their local communities. Groups were invited to enter the awards programme under one of three categories; projects which help people to have a healthy relationship with money, projects which help people to improve their local environment and projects which help people into employment.
Deafblind Scotland is recognised as Scotland’s principal authority on meeting the varying and complex needs of those living with acquired deafblindness or severe dual sensory loss. The charity was awarded £5,000 to support one to one sessions with clients and cover interpreter/guide/communicator costs to help clients self-manage their money.
Scottish Environment Link is the national intermediary for 36 of Scotland’s citizen-led environmental NGOs. It was awarded £5,000 to contribute to the costs of relaunching the Species Champion programme where MSPs of all parties choose from a list of species facing specific threats and champion their survival.
Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland helps over 3,500 children, young people and adults providing specialist services to those suffering with spina bifida and hydrocephalus. The charity was also awarded £5,000 to contribute to the costs of a financial support worker who will help service users better manage their money.
Ruth Dorman, CEO of Deafblind Scotland, said: “The award from Clydesdale Bank Spirit of the Community Fund will contribute to continuing success in a project where we have assisted over 340 visually impaired and deafblind adults, to access and resolve issues on a range of topics, including benefits, housing, travel, utility companies, consumer problems etc.”
Dr Deborah Long, Co-convenor of Scottish Environment LINK’s Wildlife Subgroup, said: “The Clydesdale award enables us to recruit MSP Species Champions in the new Holyrood parliament.
“Species are fundamental to healthy environments and species are being lost. Species Champions work with us to raise the profile of Scotland’s species and what nature means to us all: food, pollinating insects, medicines and sheer delight.”
Deborah Roe, Director of Fundraising, Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland, added: “Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland (SBH Scotland) are grateful to have been awarded this generous grant from Clydesdale Bank which will enable us to increase our financial service provision.
“A SBH Scotland Finance Worker will be able to address financial inequalities and provide support and advocacy to people across Scotland; this will have a huge impact on all those who are affected by the lifelong, complex disabilities of spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus including family members and carers.”
The Clydesdale Bank Spirit of the Community Awards 2016 winners are:
Projects which help people have a healthy relationship with money category:
- Deafblind Scotland
- Citizens Theatre
- Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland
- Turn2us
- Craigowl Communities
Projects which help people into employment category:
- Who Cares? Scotland
- Scottish Drugs Forum
- Volunteer Glasgow
- Fallin Community Enterprises
- Upward Mobility Project
Projects which help people improve their local environment category:
- Glasgow Bike Shed
- Rosewell Development Trust
- Scottish Environment Link
- Broughty Ferry YMCA
- Alzheimer Scotland
Clydesdale Bank’s sister organisation, Yorkshire Bank, has also announced 15 successful recipients of £75,000 to support local projects in England as part of the Spirit of the Community Awards initiative. This brings the total funds awarded to community projects up and down the country to £150,000.
For further information about the Yorkshire and Clydesdale Bank Foundation’s Spirit of the Community Awards, visit www.cbonline.co.uk/foundation