Three charities in Wales will receive a share of almost £1.2 million funding from the ScottishPower Foundation, which supports incredible projects that make a positive impact on people and communities across the country.
This year’s Foundation-funded projects – which support art and culture, education and empowerment, citizenship and society, and biodiversity and climate change – were selected on the basis of the significant and lasting contributions they will make to society, while enhancing people’s quality of life.
Almost £9.2 million has been awarded to successful charities since the Foundation was established in 2013.
Among the charities receiving funding this year is Cardiff-based Size of Wales, which will use its £79,350 funding to share its ‘MockCOP’ model across the UK. The project encourages conversations on climate change among young people in a similar style to the United Nations COP26 climate change conference, which will be hosted in Glasgow later this year. MockCOP is developing a network of young people equipped with the skills and knowledge to advocate for action on climate change and lead the change in their own schools and communities.
DangerPoint, based in Flintshire, North Wales, has been awarded £36,590 towards its interactive ‘Sustainable Futures’ educational resource. The innovative tool will help engage and inspire young people to develop their awareness of climate change issues while giving them the practical skills to enable them to make changes to their own behaviours and encourage others to do the same.
Action for M.E. will use the £64,698 it’s been awarded to run the ‘M.E. Advocacy Service’ across Wales. It aims to empower young people and adults with self-advocacy skills to make informed choices and be involved in decisions about their support and care to increase health, wellbeing and self-worth, through the provision of direct advocacy support and workshops.
Melanie Hill, Executive Officer and Trustee at the ScottishPower Foundation, said: “Once again, we were overwhelmed by the extraordinary work being delivered in our communities – day in and day out – and we’re very proud to support this year’s charities. The ScottishPower Foundation is committed to supporting projects that make a hugely positive impact on people’s lives and that’s what these organisations do in abundance.
“From improving education to promoting environmental protection and enhancing lives, the charities we’re supporting this year are doing truly transformative work.
“We know that throughout these challenging times, people are relying on the support of charities more than ever before, and with the help of the ScottishPower Foundation, this year’s projects can go further and make a difference for more people.”
Lorna Langton, Funding and Partnership Officer, DangerPoint, said: “To hear that we had been chosen as a beneficiary for the Scottish Power Foundation in 2021 was amazing, it has given our staff and supporters a much-needed boost during the uncertain times of the pandemic. This funding will enable us to add a new interactive educational scenario to the centre so that when we are able to welcome children and families back to Dangerpoint they will have a fantastic new zone to explore!”
Kevin Rahman-Daultrey, Policy and Education Manager for Size of Wales, said: “Scottish Power has funded our award winning MockCOP programme for 2 years and with this new funding we are able to expand our delivery and ensure youth voices are heard at COP26 and heard at the highest levels of decision making.”
