View a selection of examples that illustrate the diversity and impact of Scotland's charities.
OSCR is keen to highlight the work of Scotland's charities, to
provide the public with an illustration of the sector's impact and
diversity.
Last year we invited charities to submit images and information
about their work and objectives. From the hundreds who
responded, we selected an initial group that we believe gives a
snapshot of the sector. The wording below, while
summarised by OSCR, has been supplied by each charity to explain
its activities.
Our aim, over time, is to build a library of examples that
together show the role of charities in Scottish life, whether at
national or local level, and in doing so demonstrate why regulation
matters.
If you have a local charity that you'd like to recommend, feel
free to email us at: info@oscr.org.uk
David Robb, Chief Executive
Down's Syndrome
Scotland SC011012
Down's Syndrome Scotland is celebrating its 30
th year of
providing services, support and information to people with Down's
syndrome, their families and professionals, helping people with
Down's syndrome to reach their full potential.
The charity's Family Support Service provides home visits to
families, training to teachers, coaches and carers, and support and
information through telephone, email and social media. The new
Down's Syndrome Sports initiative provides dance, football,
gymnastics, karate, swimming and tennis to children and adults with
Down's syndrome. The charity also offers a Parent Contact Service
which provides parent mentors to families who need information and
support on issues from schooling to independent living. Its Big
Lottery-funded Making Your Way Through Life Project works with
young people and adults to build confidence, and offers a
person-centred planning programme to develops their goals for the
future.
The image on the OSCR website (photograph Graham Miller) shows
the Down's Syndrome Sports Football programme, which provides an
opportunity for young people to learn football skills in a
supportive and encouraging environment. This runs in partnership
with the Celtic Foundation and emphasises the importance of a
healthy lifestyle as well as building friendships. Down's
Syndrome Scotland aims to continue building the programme and work
with partners to see the initiative grow across Scotland.
Find out more at the charity's website: http://www.dsscotland.org.uk/
Read
the charity's entry in the Scottish Charity Register.
Firefly
Arts SC002848
Based in Livingston, Firefly Arts offers theatre skills, film
and drama activity for children and young people across West
Lothian, providing quality and equitable arts activity that builds
confidence, social and creative skills. The charity is keen to meet
new people, develop new creative partnerships, and make a
significant difference for communities by generating greater arts
opportunities for young people in Scotland.
Its experienced and enthusiastic staff deliver a range of
activity throughout the year, including the Firefly Workshop
Programme, aimed at five to 18 year olds, which develops drama,
performance and film skills in weekly sessions across West
Lothian. The Firefly Collective, aimed at over-16s, delivers
weekly workshops and performance skills for adults with support
needs while the Firefly School provides Outreach community projects
for 5 to 25 year olds, exploring specific themes and topics.
The Firefly Youth Theatre, which features on the OSCR website
(photograph Sinclair MacKenzie) offers 14 to 25 year olds the
chance to shine, developing skills and experience in writing,
production and performance. The charity also runs a Friends
of Firefly scheme with three categories of support available and
all funds raised used directly for community projects - in
particular workshops for young adults with learning and physical
disabilities; projects for young carers; and theatre development
work with young people who are deaf, or have sensory or
communication difficulties.
Find out more at the charity's website: http://firefly-arts.co.uk/
Read the charity's entry in
the Scottish Charity Register.
Pet
Blood Bank UK SC037745
Set up in 2007, Pet Blood Bank UK is the first and only charity
of its kind that provides a canine blood bank service for all
veterinary practitioners across the UK.
Operating just like the human blood service, Pet Blood Bank UK
collects from volunteer 'doggy donors' at organised collection
sessions nationwide, on average three sessions a week. The blood is
then processed into packed red blood cells and fresh plasma, and
delivered to veterinary practices when needed. Over 4,000
canine donors are registered, each donating up to four times a
year.
The charity's website allows you to search for the next
collection session in your area. In addition, the charity
delivers lectures on blood banking and basic transfusion medicine
with educational workshops held at veterinary conferences,
universities and vets' practices. The charity also has an
ongoing research programme into the welfare aspects of, and the
science behind, the production and clinical use of blood
products.
Every unit of blood collected can help to save four dogs' lives,
saving thousands of canine lives every year.
Find out more at the charity's website: http://www.petbloodbankuk.org/
Read the charity's entry
in the Scottish Charity Register.
Glasgow
Life SC037844
Glasgow Life is the operating name of Culture and Sport Glasgow,
a charity that seeks to enrich the lives of the citizens of Glasgow
and beyond through engagement in sporting and cultural activities.
It does this by providing sports centres, events, music venues,
libraries, museums, classes, theatres and community facilities city
wide.
Across Glasgow, the charity provides services to make a
difference to the lives of the local community. In the last year,
Glasgow Life saw a record 16.8 million individual attendances or
uses of its services - up 2.3 million from the previous year. In
its first year, the Riverside Museum exceeded all expectations,
recording 1.6 million visits and winning a raft of national and
international awards.
Find out more at the charity's website: http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/about-us/Pages/home.aspx
Read the
charity's entry in the Scottish Charity Register.
The Communications
and Public Service Lifeboat Fund
SC041904
The Lifeboat Fund was founded in 1866 and is an official charity
of the Civil Service, with support from employees and former staff
of the Royal Mail and British Telecom. The Fund's sole aim is
to support the work of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
The charity benefits from donations given by serving and retired
employees, and from legacies. Civil servants the length and breadth
of the UK organise fundraising collections, hold raffles and coffee
mornings, and carry out sponsored activities to support and promote
the RNLI's life-saving work.
The Fund is the single largest regular contributor to the RNLI,
which is run wholly on voluntary donations and legacies.
Since it began, the Fund has bought 52 lifeboats for the RNLI,
which have together saved over 4,700 lives.
The total gifted by The Fund to the RNLI in 2011 was £200,000,
helping to train and equip the volunteer lifeboat crews. Its
2012 Appeal spread the benefit of its fundraising - buying new
lifejackets, training lifeguards and maintaining boats it has
purchased. In 2013, the appeal seeks to purchase a full kit
for a crew member at every lifeboat station in Scotland, England,
Wales and Northern Ireland.
The number of lifeboat launches has more than doubled in the
last 10 years, with 2011 proving to be the RNLI's second busiest
year ever - for launches, for the time crews spent at sea and for
lifeguard activity. The Lifeboat Fund's lifeboats were used
to rescue more than 140 people, five of whom owe their lives to the
brave volunteers who crew these boats.
Find out more at the charity's website: http://www.thelifeboatfund.org.uk/
Read the charity's entry
in the Scottish Charity Register.
Carr
Gomm SC033491
Carr Gomm has over 10 years' experience of providing services to
people with a wide range of support needs. Its philosophy of
support is based on the view that we all, as human beings, have a
lot to contribute to each other and to wider society. Its
vision is that we should all live in a society where everyone has
the support they need to make choices and control their lives as
citizens.
The charity provides support at home or through its services.
The support provided can be long term or short term, for recovery
or for respite. People discuss their particular needs are and the
charity works with them to make a difference.
The charity supports its beneficiaries as members of a wider
grouping of family, friends and community with its work supporting
the strength of this network and encouraging its place in people's
lives. The charity aims to do this through co-operation and
inclusion and in developing opportunities.
Find out more at the charity's website: http://www.carrgomm.org/
Read the charity's entry in
the Scottish Charity Register.
Meningitis
Research Foundation SC037586
The Meningitis Research Foundation believes that scientific
research holds the key to the vision of a world free from
meningitis and septicaemia. Since its foundation in 1989, MRF has
awarded 137 research grants leading to many advances in the
prevention, detection and treatment of meningitis and
septicaemia. The total value of its investment in scientific
research is over £17 million, with 17 projects currently in its
research programme.
With 3,400 cases of meningitis and septicaemia each year in the
UK, on average, every day nine people are affected, of whom one
will die and two more will be left with life long
disabilities. While meningitis can affect anyone, the
majority of those affected are young children and teenagers, with
meningitis the biggest killer of children from disease in the
UK.
MRF also runs awareness programmes for the general public and
health professionals, reflecting the best current understanding of
meningitis and septicaemia and distributing millions of life-saving
symptoms cards, leaflets, and posters to the general public and
health professionals, free of charge.
The charity has a membership of over 15,000 active individual
members and supporters in the UK, whose personal experience informs
all aspects of MRF's work. The charity operates Meningitis
Awareness Week, which this year runs from 17 to 23 September, and
aims to increase awareness of symptoms and the need to seek early
help. Information and iPhone apps are available at MRF's
website.
Find out more at the charity's website: http://www.meningitis.org/
Read the
charity's entry in the Scottish Charity Register.
The
Aberdeen Day Project SC030100 (known as The Breadmaker)
The Bread Maker has been running its award-winning coffee house
and artisan bakery on Aberdeen's Rosemount Viaduct since 2006,
providing training and employment opportunities to adults with
learning disabilities who may otherwise be excluded from mainstream
society. This commercially focused social enterprise produces
high quality breads and confectionery, providing employment,
training, educational opportunities and social activities to its
beneficiaries.
The ethos of The Bread Maker is to fully support its apprentices,
enabling them to work holistically and innovatively. This
approach offers a stimulating and positive experience for each
individual, recognising their contribution and input as a valued
team player.
The charity's apprentice scheme provides a range of work
experience and job opportunities. In addition, apprentices
are supported in fully participating in the life of the City,
engaging in a range of social activities and learning opportunities
beyond their work roles. A continuous Personal Development
programme gives an opportunity for everyone to maximise their own
potential to become a fully active member of society valued for
their abilities, skills and experience.
Find out more at the charity's website: http://www.thebreadmaker.org.uk/
Read the charity's entry in the
Scottish Charity Register.
The
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds SC037654
Scotland's variety of wildlife species and habitats is
outstanding - from golden eagles to otters, red squirrels to
wintering geese and huge seabird colonies - all set among rugged
mountains, moorland, ancient Caledonian pine forests and miles of
coastline. RSPB's work in Scotland helps protect them
all.
The charity manages an extensive network of nature reserves across
the country, working to protect rare species and habitats for
future generations. It bases its work on sound scientific
understanding, ensuring its policies and partnerships deliver for
wildlife and biodiversity. Volunteers are an essential part of RSPB
Scotland, at the heart of what it does and achieves.
Find out more at the charity's website: http://www.rspb.org.uk/scotland/
Read the charity's entry in the
Scottish Charity Register.
The
Scottish Pre-school Play Association SC003725
The Scottish Pre-school Play Association (SPPA) provides direct
support services to community-led childcare groups across the
country. It is Scotland's largest voluntary sector provider
of such services.
Member groups have access to support such as specially negotiated
insurance cover; guidance publications setting out good practice
for administration and governance; and resources for play and
development.
SPPA delivers support and guidance to providers of pre-school
education and childcare services. These include:
• all-day care groups
• playgroups
• parent and toddler groups
• under-fives groups.
Member groups of the SPPA operate throughout mainland Scotland and
the Islands. The charity has over forty years'
experience of working with children and families, covering many of
the most disadvantaged groups in Scotland. These
include:
• families on low income
• ethnic minority families
• lone parent families
• families affected by social or rural
isolation.
SPPA works closely with parents, early years providers, public
bodies, and childcare partnerships to support early education and
childcare provision. The charity represents the interests of
voluntary sector community based provision, giving input to
national and local policy consultations and working groups.
The SPPA's National Early Years Conference is being held this year
at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow on Thursday 4 October.
Find out more from the SPPA website: http://www.sppa.org.uk/
Read the charity's entry in the
Scottish Charity Register.
Army Cadet Force
Association SC039057
The Army Cadet Force Association (ACFA) is dedicated to
promoting the ideals and activities of the Army Cadet Force (ACF),
one of the country's largest youth organisations and which
celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2010.
The ACF provides fun, friendship, action and adventure for 5,000
cadets across Scotland. Sponsored by the British Army, it
aims to inspire young people to achieve success in life with a
spirit of service to the Queen, their country and their local
community, and developing the qualities of good citizenship.
The organisation welcomes boys and girls of all abilities and
backgrounds between 12 and 18 years of age. Through a range
of exciting, challenging, educational and adventure activities,
cadets are developed physically, mentally and socially. Some
activities have a military theme and others a community focus,
together promoting fun and friendship and helping cadets prepare
for success in their chosen path in life, whatever this might
be.
A particular focus, particularly in North East Scotland, is ACF
piping and drumming, with the organisation recently achieving
Scottish Qualifications Authority accreditation for its
training.
Find out more here: http://armycadets.com/about-us/
Read the
charity's entry in the Scottish Charity Register.
The Aigas Trust
SC005053
The Aigas Trust is based in Beauly, near Inverness. It was
established in 1980 by conservationist and author Sir John
Lister-Kaye with the aim of providing educational opportunities to
learn about, and be inspired by, the natural world.
While the Aigas Trust offers learning opportunities for all age
groups, it has a particular focus on young people as the key to a
safe and sustainable future. Every year the charity engages
with over 4,000 young people through its education programmes,
helping them to connect with their natural heritage by immersing
them in nature and encouraging them to understand, enjoy and care
for the environment.
The Aigas Trust also runs a highly successful Ranger
Training Programme which provides natural science graduates with a
comprehensive workplace learning programme. This successful
initiative has seen many participants taking up employment in
conservation and education.
Find out more at the charity's website: www.naturedays.org.uk
Read the charity's entry in the Scottish
Charity Register.