Spirit of Our Community

The Spirit of Our Community Awards celebrate and reward the people and organisations working hard to make a positive difference to others in their local community. This programme offers financial rewards to voluntary and community groups, registered charities and not-for-profit organisations doing great work.

About the awards

Our 2002 winners

Judged by a mix of International Beverage employees and external associates, the 2022 awards were open to charities and not-for-profit organisations based in the Airdrie and Coatbridge area. Lots of worthy applications were received and after a lengthy process, the final decision was made regarding the three winners who encapsulate the real ‘spirit’ of the initiative.

A top prize of £10,000 was donated to GlenboigLarder@BHS: a new sustainable community resource providing subsidised food shopping to anyone in the area experiencing food poverty, and to do so with dignity. Known as ‘The Larder’, the initiative has been set up jointly by community health charity Glenboig Development Trust and Buchanan High Additional Support Needs School in Coatbridge. Stocking fresh, nutritional goods as well as pantry staples and recipe boxes, for a fixed cost of £4 shoppers can buy goods to the value of around £20, plus access healthy recipes, cooking skills and advice about other food and welfare resources in the area. The £10,000 donation will be used for the store fit-out, to buy equipment such as cash registers, cold storage, staff uniforms and baskets, and to stock the shelves with an initial range of food and supplies.

Two additional runner-up donations of £1,000 each were also awarded to the Moira Anderson Foundation’s counselling programme for people who have experienced childhood sexual abuse; and the Scot Baby Box Appeal which provides welcome backpacks for Ukrainian child refugees arriving in the area.

     

2023 awards

Following the success of our 2022 awards, we have ambitious plans to expand the reach of this initiative in 2023. Entries will open this autumn, check back soon for more information!