Alness Group Scoops Top Award
An Alness residents group that expanded and refurbished their local community centre has won a top prize in Scotland’s most prestigious charity awards.
The West Alness Residents Association won the Community Action award at the Annual TFN Awards that are organised by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and voluntary sector newspaper Third Force News. As well as Community Action another four awards in different categories were presented including Charity Champion, Charity of the Year, Campaign of the Year and Partnership.
Susan Smith TFN editor said: “I want to offer my congratulations to all the winners of the very first TFN annual Charity Awards for the voluntary sector. The judging panel were very impressed with all of the award nominees but the winners really deserve their accolades. From small community-based voluntary organisations to some of Scotland’s largest charities, the quality was superb and it’s a great privilege to be able to highlight the vital work that all of the groups perform.”
The TFN Annual Charity Awards, were presented at the annual dinner at the Gathering, Scotland’s voluntary sector fair, in Glasgow. The awards aim to recognise excellence across Scotland’s voluntary sector and reflect the breadth of organisations working within the sector to support their communities.
Gavin Yates, Head of Communications at SCVO said: “The TFN Awards will be an annual event to tie in with the Gathering, which is one of the highlights of the year for the voluntary sector in Scotland. It’s vital that the achievements of Scotland’s charities and voluntary organisations are suitably acknowledged and I feel that the quality of every nominee shows the ability and diversity of our sector.”
The awards ceremony was hosted by the broadcaster and journalist Ruth Wishart, at Glasgow’s Science Centre on Thursday May 24 2007.
The award winners
• COMMUNITY ACTION AWARD
A community group/movement that has made significant achievements
Winner - WEST ALNESS RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
Call Jennifer MacLeod on 01349 883564 for more information
• CHARITY OF THE YEAR
For an organisation that has made significant achievements and gained public recognition
Winner - BUCHAN DIAL-A-BUS
• CHARITY CHAMPION
The person who has significantly advanced the role of the voluntary sector and/or an individual organisation
Winner - ALAN DICKSON chief executive Capability Scotland
• CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
An advertising/media campaign that brought a single issue to public recognition and affected change
Winner - RNIB SCOTLAND: Smoking and sight loss
• PARTNERSHIP AWARD
A non-voluntary organisation that has developed strong links with the voluntary sector and helped to promote the role and aims of the sector to the wider community
Winner - ADAM SMITH COLLEGE in partnership with CVS FIFE
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. For more information, pictures and comments about the individual winners in your area call Gavin Yates, Head of Communications, SCVO 0131 474 8046