The Yard and Chief Executive named as finalists in Scottish Charity Awards

The Yard is in the running for two 2017 Scottish Charity Awards. The organisation has been shortlisted for Charity of the Year, as well as its Chief Executive, Celine Sinclair, for the Leading Light award.

Organised by Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), the Awards, which are free to enter, celebrate the life-changing work of charities, community groups and individuals dedicated to making Scotland a better place to live.

Celine Sinclair, Chief Executive of The Yard, said:

“During our 30^th anniversary year, we are absolutely delighted to be shortlisted for Charity of the Year in SCVO’s Scottish Charity Awards. The Yard’s expertise in play and disability is well known and respected in the third sector and Scottish Government. As we grow beyond our flagship Edinburgh centre, into Dundee, Fife and beyond, we are now becoming recognised as a national charity with even more to offer. Gaining the recognition of our colleagues and supporters in this way helps us reach new audiences, allowing The Yard to continue to grow successfully and, ultimately, fulfil our vision of access to play for all Scotland’s disabled children.

“After ten years as Chief Executive at The Yard, I am absolutely delighted to be shortlisted for Leading Light award. The endorsement of my colleagues means a lot and will hopefully help us reach more people with the services we offer. ”

Martin Sime, Chief Executive, SCVO, said:

“Year after year, Scottish charities and voluntary organisations prove themselves to be beacons for creativity, tenacity and innovation. This year’s Scottish Charity Awards finalists demonstrate these qualities in abundance and are shining examples of how people can work together to make Scotland a better place.”

All shortlisted entries will also compete for the People’s Choice Award, which will be decided by the public via online voting. You can vote for Celine and The Yard on the Good HQ website.

The full shortlist includes:

Charity of the year

• Who Cares? Scotland

• Hope Kitchen

• The Yard

• Street Soccer Scotland

Celebrating communities

• Dunaverty Hall Committee

• Stirling Soup

• Rainbow Muslim Women's Group

• North West Recovery Communities

• Greener Kirkcaldy

Charity champion

• Arthur (Ally Bally) Ballingall - Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance

• Laura Young – Teapot Trust

• Marie Short - Scottish Huntington's Association

• Anne Gurney – No Limits

Leading light

• Jamie Marshall – The Wave Project

• Maggie Lawson - Badenoch & Strathspey Community Transport Company

• Maggie Lennon – Bridges Programmes

• Mary Mcfarlane - Aberlour

• Celine Sinclair – The Yard

• Robert MacGilivary – Save the Children

Cracking campaign

• #Ijustfroze – Rape Crisis Scotland

• Big Hearts Supporters – Big Hearts Community Trust

• Gordon's Fightback – MND Scotland

• #IncludED in the Main?! – ENABLE Scotland

• Unlock Kadcyla – Breast Cancer Now

Pioneering project

• Lingo Flamingo

• Waverley Care

• The Experience

• Community Resource Network Scotland

• Inclusion Scotland

• C-Change Scotland

Demonstrating digital

• Paisley YMCA

• Drake Music Scotland

• Parkinson's UK

• Carr Gomm

Terrific trustee

• James Campbell – Bobath Scotland

• Prof Gordon Dickson - CHAS

• Abbie Wilson – Young Scot

• John Bullough – Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance