Clothing swapshop reachfinal ofawards scheme
contact centre when Joshua was aged three, Alicia said: “When the system took my son away, it affected me really badly. It still affects me now.
“I have learned to deal with it a bit better now.
“He turned 15 just a few weeks ago. Trying to contact him when he turns 18 is something I think I will do. I had him for 18 months. I had that bond with him.
“He was taken due to my mental health. If I’d had that support, I might still have my son.”
A Lanarkshire clothing swap shop boss is thrilled after he and his team reached the final of a prestigious Scottish charity awards scheme.
Run annually by the Scottish Council for Voluntar y Organisations (SCVO), the Scottish Charity Awards celebrate the best of Scotland’s voluntary sector.
A finalist in the Climate Conscious category, R:evolve Recycle is among 47 individuals and organisations from charities and voluntary groups across the country to be shortlisted.
A j udging panel will determine the winners under nine distinct categories.
Chad Morse from the charity told the Wishaw Press: “We are all really excited to have been shortlisted for this award and we are looking forward to the ceremony on October 1.
“It would be absolutely amazing if we could win the award as it would be a validation of all the volunteers’ hard work and the members’ support of the project – both during the last year and since its inception six years ago.”
The full list of finalists can be found on the SCVO website.
Winners will be announced on October 1 in an online ceremony so that all finalists and attendees who wish to attend are still able to join the celebrations in a safe way, regardless of lockdown restrictions.
Anna Fowlie, chief executive of SCVO, said: “We know that fantastic work is going on all the time and we are delighted to celebrate these achievements and successes t hrough t he Scottish Charity Awards.
“We had a record-breaking number of entries this year and each one demonstrated just how well the voluntary sector has responded and adapted to changes and restrictions over the past 12 months, which made shortlisting all the more difficult.
“Our 47 finalists showcase just how diverse our voluntary sector is and highlight the fantastic work that has been going on across the country during the coronavirus pandemic.
“The awards are a great way of celebrating and recognising the people and organisations who make our voluntary sector a crucial part of every part of life in Scotland.
“Our finalists are all fantastic.”