Clydesdale Bank Recognises Community Spirit in Scotland

20th June 2014

Twelve 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.

The Spirit of the Community Awards announced the substantial donations to voluntary groups at an awards ceremony in Glasgow to recognise the charities and not-for-profit organisations which are going the extra mile.

The community groups across Scotland were selected to share funding of £75,000 to make a real difference in their local areas, including Poppyscotland which supports war veterans.  The charity has been awarded £5,000 to support its Employ-Able programme – a collaborative new service between Poppyscotland and the Scottish Association for Mental Health, which aims to help veterans back to work by providing them with tailored support.

Now in their second year, the awards were open to a range of organisations across the third sector which could demonstrate their support for the local community.  Groups were invited to enter the awards scheme under one of three categories; education, employability and environment.

An overall winning group has been selected in each category securing £10,000 of funding, along with three highly commended winners that were each awarded £5,000. 
David Thorburn, Chief Executive of Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks, said: “Clydesdale Bank’s Spirit of the Community Awards recognise and support the important role that voluntary and charitable organisations play in their local communities. It has been inspiring to see the great work that is being done at grass roots level across the country.

“Poppyscotland is an extremely deserving winner and has been recognised for its community spirit with this award from Clydesdale Bank.”

Colin Flinn, Head of Fundraising at Poppyscotland, said: “It’s a great honour to win this award in relation to our employability work with Armed Forces veterans and our partnership with the Scottish Association for Mental Health.

“Veterans can struggle with a number of issues after leaving the military and employment is a key area of our work. Through our employment services we aim to equip veterans with the skills and confidence necessary to help them overcome barriers and get back into the workplace.  This award will help us continue our important work with veterans and their families, enabling them to take control of their lives and improve their wellbeing.”

Clydesdale Bank’s sister organisation, Yorkshire Bank, has also announced 12 successful recipients of £75,000 as part of the Spirit of the Community Awards initiative.  This brings the total funds awarded to 24 community groups up and down the country to £150,000.

For further information about Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank Foundation’s Spirit of the Community Awards, please visit www.cbonline.co.uk/foundation 

The Clydesdale Bank Spirit of the Community Award Winners are:

Education category

• Citizens Advice Bureau Coatbridge
• Positive Action in Housing Ltd
• Deaf Action
• Shelter Scotland

Employability category

• Citizens Advice Bureau Western Isles
• Amina – the Muslim Women’s Resource Centre
• North East Sensory Services (NESS)
• Poppyscotland

Environment category

• Impact Arts (Projects) Ltd
• Possibilities for Each and Every Kid (PEEK) Ltd
• Scottish Seabird Centre
• Kilsyth Community Market Garden t/a Kelvin Valley Honey