Street League recognised at ScottishPower Foundation Awards
We are thrilled that Street League has been selected as the runner-up in the Innovation category at the 2021 ScottishPower Foundation Awards.
We were selected for our rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, which saw our entire team quickly adapting our in-person youth employability and sport programme to a digital format. This, paired with additional supports to ensure participants had money for food and data or internet to access key services, formed our Head – Body – Future campaign.
Kirsty Steven, Head of Scottish Operations at Street League, said: “We believe that every young person should have the chance to succeed. Everything we do is focused on supporting young people so that they can fulfil their potential and gain long-lasting employment, education or training. Many of the people we work with come from disadvantaged communities and have to overcome practical and personal challenges just to reach the same starting point as many of their peers. Having the access to tablets, internet and data was a heightened problem during the pandemic. It’s fantastic that our ‘Head – Body – Future’ campaign has been recognised at the ScottishPower Foundation Awards and the funding boost will help us continue to ensure young people in Scotland stay connected. This support allows them to fulfil their basic needs and access key services, and this remains an urgent priority for us at Street League.”
Declan, a Street League graduate who is now in employment, said: “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic I was made redundant. My future definitely looks a lot brighter thanks to Street League.”
Nine charities in total were shortlisted for the Innovation Award, with Street League coming in a close second to Edward’s Trust, a charity supporting people through bereavement. As runner-up, Street League receives a £2,500 prize while Edward’s Trust is the winner of the £5,000 prize.
At Street League, we continues to be committed to minimising the detrimental and long-term impact of the pandemic on young people who are just leaving school, looking for work, and in the very first stages of their career. We run free programmes across Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, and Dundee and Angus for young people interested in daily sports sessions, skills building, qualifications, and career guidance in a fun, safe environment.
SYNOPSIS: We are thrilled that Street League has been selected as the runner-up in the Innovation category at the 2021 ScottishPower Foundation Awards.