The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) was named Scotland's charity of the year last night, and also scooped the Heart and Soul people's choice award decided by a public vote.

Winners of the 2013 Scottish Charity Awards were announced at a ceremony held by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) at Glasgow's Old Fruitmarket.

Other winners include The Equal Marriage campaign by the Equality Network, which won campaign of the year – after winning the same category in the Herald's own Society Awards last November.

Michael Pattie, who has been fundraising and campaigning for Meningitis Research Foundation since 1999, when his 13-year-old son David died of meningococcal meningitis, was named as Charity Champion.

A collaboration between the Scottish Refugee Council and Aberlour Child Care to promote guardianship for young asylum seekers was best partnership, while Dun-dee young people's charity Eighteen and Under won the award for community action.

Alison Elliot, convener of SCVO, said: "The excellent quality of entries this year made our judges' task difficult."