A MOTHER of two autistic sons has been named as Scotland's Charity Champion in the 2014 Scottish Charity Awards.
Gail McKeitch, of Ellon, was recognised for her work with the National Autistic Society (NAS) Scotland, which included raising more than £15,000 for the group and setting up trampolining sessions for families with disabled children in Aberdeenshire.
At an awards ceremony at Edinburgh's Assembly Rooms last night, the Charity of the Year award went to Toonspeak Young People's Theatre, which worked with more than 500 young people last year to create theatre that it says aims to expand imagination and inspire change in communities.
The campaign of the year award was won by the Coalition for Continuing Care, a partnership of charities and young people in care who persuaded the Scottish Government to amend its Children and Young People bill to guarantee support for care leavers into adulthood.
The awards are open to any charity, community group or individual charity volunteer or staff member. Shulah Allan, convener of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, who hosted the awards, said: "All of this year's finalists are remarkable examples of how Scotland has one of the most vibrant and innovative third sectors in the world."
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