A Manchester charity supported by the ScottishPower Foundation could be in line for a funding boost this winter after being shortlisted for its annual awards.
Lorna Young Foundation has been shortlisted for the Community Engagement Award, Education Award, Charity Champion Award and Innovation Award thanks to its ‘Freeing Up Ethical Enterprise Training – NEETs and Not Just Us’ programme, which is designed to create opportunities for marginalised groups to help them move into further education and self-employment.
The project offers free-to-all access to Ethical Entrepreneurs (‘Not Just Us’) training resources to improve the economic and employment chances of NEETs (young people not engaged in education, employment or training), refugees and individuals experiencing homelessness, and fosters local ethical and environmental responsibility.
The charity was funded by the Foundation in 2022 and is now in with a chance of an additional boost with award winners receiving a further £5,000 to support their vital work and runners-up taking home £2,500.
In total, 23 inspirational charities are in the running for this year’s ScottishPower Foundation awards.
Melanie Hill, Executive Officer and Trustee at the ScottishPower Foundation said: “The value of the vital support charities provide to people and communities has never been more important. The work of Lorna Young Foundation is a great example of how our funding can help incredible charities transform lives across the country.
“These are tough times for many people, but the hard work of these charities continues every day to support, educate and inspire people across the country. They go above and beyond, so it’s fantastic to have the opportunity to give them further funding support in these difficult times.
“It’s a real privilege to help make a difference and that is all thanks to the £10 million the ScottishPower Foundation has provided in funding over the last nine years. I’m looking forward to celebrating the achievements of our finalists – and the legacy of the ScottishPower Foundation – on Awards Day next month.”
Christina Longden, Director of the Lorna Young Foundation, said: “We are thrilled to have received a shortlisting for this award. Our charity was named in memory of Lorna Young, the Scottish Fair Trade pioneer who challenged the business sector to adopt both ethical policies and practices.
We are so pleased that the Scottish Power Foundation are working with us to promote better ethics, a stronger and kinder society, and address climate change issues. We are the only education charity in the UK that focuses on supporting disadvantaged people to become ethical entrepreneurs and we are committed to ensuring that free and accessible ethical enterprise is available to all, regardless of background or disadvantage.”
The shortlists for all awards this year were selected by a judging panel made up of experts from the industry and the education sectors. This year’s judges were Melanie Hill, Executive Officer and Trustee of the ScottishPower Foundation; Sarah McNulty, HR Director at ScottishPower; Arthur McIvor, Senior Client Manager at EU Skills; and Marina Livingstone, Programmes Director at Strathclyde University Business School.
You can keep up to date with the winners and runners-up on Twitter @ScottishPower. The winners will be announced on 1 November.
For a full list of the shortlisted charities, go to www.scottishpowerfoundation.com.
