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Laila wins Community Champion Award for SBH Scotland
An inspiring eight-year old charity fundraiser from East Kilbride has scooped the Charity Champion Award at this year’s ScottishPower Foundation Awards, leading a Scottish trio of success at the annual charity celebration.
Laila McRae was crowned this year’s ScottishPower Foundation Charity Champion for her incredible fundraising efforts for us at Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland (SBH Scotland), which supports her baby sister, Amber, who was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus and has been through many surgeries in the first year of her life.
Laila herself was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis – which only affects one in 1,000 children – when she was three, but she has battled through the pain to make a real difference for Amber and others supported by SBH Scotland – raising more than £2,000 in the last year alone. Laila’s fundraising efforts included drawing rainbows of hope and displaying them around her local community with a JustGiving link to SBH Scotland; taking part in the 2.6 challenge during lockdown; and completing the Kiltwalk in April this year – an incredible achievement given her arthritis.
Laila’s success gives an incredible funding boost of £5,000 to SBH Scotland, which her Mum, Leanne, says has made a huge difference for her family.
Deborah Roe, Director of Fundraising at Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland said: “The past twelve months have been hugely challenging for the voluntary sector and for the families we support. Almost overnight, we had to write off about 50 per cent of our fundraising income. However, thanks to the selfless support of individuals like Laila, we are able to continue supporting families across Scotland affected by spina bifida/hydrocephalus. Laila is a wee star and we can't think of anyone more deserving of the Charity Champion award.”
Laila’s mum Leanne said: “SBH Scotland has supported our family and Amber all the way through her journey. It’s been hard for us, but there was no stopping Laila when she decided she wanted to help! We’re so proud of what she has achieved for Amber and everyone supported by the charity – it was no mean feat, but she did it. She is real inspiration to everyone around her and we’re so chuffed the ScottishPower Foundation has recognised that.”
Also taking a winner’s spot and £5,000 at the 2021 Foundation Awards was Dundee Heritage Trust, which picked up the Community Engagement Award and Paisley-based Street League completes the Scots Awards line-up, receiving £2,500 as runner-up in the Innovation Award category.
The ScottishPower Foundation Awards showcase projects that make a positive impact on people and communities across the country. The successful projects – which support individuals, families and young people from across the UK – range from developing skills for employment, arts programmes and support for mental health to helping homeless people.
They are open to recipients of this year’s ScottishPower Foundation funding, which saw almost £1.2 million awarded to a wide range of outstanding charities. The projects are judged in four categories: Innovation Award, Education Award, Community Engagement Award, and Charity Champion Award – which gives special recognition to the outstanding contribution made by an exceptional employee or volunteer who exemplifies what their organisation stands for.
Melanie Hill, Executive Officer and Trustee of the ScottishPower Foundation, said: “Huge congratulations to this year’s Foundation Award winners and runners-up, who all help improve lives and change lives. It’s so rewarding to be able to honour the amazing work of our Foundation-funded charities through our Awards celebration and, as always, it was an almost impossible task to choose between the finalists.
“However, Laila and her efforts for SBH Scotland and the work of Dundee Heritage Trust and Street League – alongside our other worthy winners from across the UK – all stood out from the crowd in how they went above and beyond to make a difference for others. They epitomise what the ScottishPower Foundation stands for and they are incredible charity ambassadors – not just for their own organisations, but for the whole of Scotland.
“I can’t wait to see how they put their prize money to use and continue their incredible charitable work across the country.”
The full list of winners and runners-up is available on the ScottishPower Foundation website: www.scottishpowerfoundation.com.
If you've been inspired by Laila to Fundraise for SBH Scotland why not contact our Fundraising Team or take a look at our Treks and Challenges pages? Fundraising has never meant more than it does right now - you can make a big difference today.
SBH Scotland win the Scottish Power Education Award
We are delighted to announce that from a shortlist of exceptional organisations, SBH Scotland has been awarded the Scottish Power Foundation's 'Education Award' as part of their annual awards. Winners in each category receive an additional £5,000 funding boost, with runners-up receiving £2,500.
Scottish Power said, "The judges recognised its [SBH Scotland] brilliant work to help children with spina bifida to be fully included in the learning experience! 👏👏🙌"
"The judges recognised the charity’s work to support each child individually and to tailor its support to their bespoke needs. For example, it worked with partner organisations to ensure one child who required crutches to get around was able to fully participate in sporting activities at his school".
SBH Scotland was also praised for our work celebrating what makes our children unique and ensuring they all have the best possible start in life.
In addition, our member and fundraiser Lucy Abbeels received the Runner Up award for 'Charity Champion of the Year' for her consistent commitment to raising funds and awareness for our charity. Congratulations Lucy and thank you for your support.
SBH Scotland win National Charity of the Year
Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus (SBH) Scotland, has been named National Charity of the Year by a host of judges and scooped up three other accolades at this year’s Charity Champions Awards.
The awards, which are judged by an independent panel who include the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), were set up to recognise and reward the country’s charitable sector and they announced the winners at the Marriott Hotel, Glasgow, during a glitzy ceremony.
Charity Champions CEO Warren Paul and event organisers at Paramount Creative said,
"We are delighted that Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus (SBH) Scotland, have won National Charity of the Year. They do such an amazing job and work tirelessly for their cause and that is why we are so honored to celebrate their hard work."
SBH Scotland were awarded four awards in total including the top gong, National Charity of the Year. Its chairperson, Dr Margo Whiteford, was awarded the Lifetime Contribution Award for her dedication to raising awareness of disabililty over the past 50 years.
A group of SBH Scotland fundraisers in Peterhead also won Volunteers of the Year, for their continued support and unique fundraising efforts.
Finally, SBH Scotland was announced as runner-up for Disability Charity of the Year.
Deborah Roe, fundraising director at SBH Scotland, said: “We’re honoured to win National Charity of the Year, as well as recognise Margo for all her achievement and commitment to improving lives over three decades. She inspires us daily and is a driving force behind everything we’re able to achieve.
“Our Peterhead ladies are also well deserving and we are grateful to everyone who sponsors, donates and volunteers to help us on our mission.
“We’ve just celebrated the 50th year of SBH Scotland and it’s amazing to see how far we’ve come in half a century and we’re proud to be recognised for the specialist work we provide across the country.”
If you would like to support SBH Scotland, call 03455 211 600, email or visit our web for more details.
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