Michael Adair, a social worker with Epilepsy Scotland, has been named Worker of the Year at the Herald's 5th annual Society Awards in Glasgow.
He was recognised for work with the families of young people with epilepsy.
The event, presented in association with the Big Lottery Fund in Scotland, featured a keynote speech from Cormac Russell of Nurture Development UK. He called for a focus on the assets of communities rather than their needs. He said: "People are dying of loneliness in a scene of neighbourhoods that have forgotten how to be neighbourly.."
The event also saw 75-year-old Jim Conkey, of Glasgow, named Unsung Hero of the Year for his efforts to create socially useful inventions, such as a security door alarm for older people living alone.
Kilmarnock College was given Education Initiative of the Year for its Hive project, and Health Provider of the Year went to the charity Addaction for its over-50s alcohol service. The Campaign of the Year was the Equality Network's ground-breaking and effective campaign to persuade the Scottish Government to introduce equal marriage laws.
Glasgow Housing Association's work to fit homes with solar panels was Environmental Initiative of the Year, while Irvine Housing Association was Young People's Project of the Year for youth development scheme Pryde.
The National Galleries of Scotland took Older People's Project of the Year and the Equalities Award went to Article 12 in Scotland.
Glasgow City Council's Helping Heroes scheme was Best Partnership, while The University of Strathclyde Law Clinic was Team of the Year.
Last but not least, two groups took Community Project of the Year: Horshader Community Development Trust and Starter Packs Glasgow.
l For full coverage of the Herald Society Awards and Ideas Exchange, see the Herald Society page this Tuesday.
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