Full of Hope

OBAN’S Hope Kitchen has been named as a Charity of the Year finalist in the Scottish Charity Awards.

OBAN’S Hope Kitchen has been named as a Charity of the Year finalist in the Scottish Charity Awards.

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

Hope Kitchen’s elated service manager Lorraine MacCormick said: ‘ We cannot believe it. They had hundreds of entries and now they’re down to the final four. We are delighted and stunned.’

Last year Hope Kitchen secured a Big Lottery grant of £150,000 and, during April, its Take in a Tin campaign led to 800 cans of food and half again in dried food being donated by benefactors.

Service supervisor Beth Campbell said: ‘ The charity should be rightfully proud, and it is down to the hard work of volunteers. Without the volunteers, there would not be anything.’

Martin Sime, SCVO’s chief executive, 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. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on Thursday June 22.