Dean Widd, whose son has Muscular Dystrophy, is just one of the top Scottish fundraisers honoured at this year's Fundraising Scotland Awards
Dad turned professional fundraiser Dean Widd has been named Scottish Fundraiser of the Year for his work with Muscular Dystrophy UK.
Dean, from Stirling, started his fundraising journey as a normal dad, when he was told his then four-year-old son Arryn had muscular dystrophy.
Now the Scottish regional development manager for Muscular Dystrophy UK, Dean was named top of his profession at the Scottish Charity Fundraising Awards in Glasgow on Tuesday night.
That’s basically what I’m about, I’m a dad trying to make a difference – Dean Widd
Dean said: "I’m absoutaly amazed and ecstatic, I wasn’t expecting this at all. I fell into this by chance – when Arryn was diagnosed, I decided that a lot of the nos I was hearing I wouldn’t accept, and I wanted to make a change not just for my son but for the other families in Scotland as well.
"So a lot of my work at the start was very much on the volunteer side of things, attending meetings at the Scottish Parliament, trying to make a difference for families. This work was recognised and I got involved with the charity to hopefully inspire other families."
Over the past 18 months, Dean has delivered income growth for the charity of 33%, supporter-led income by 59% and has established four new fundraising groups.
Dean's personal life, however, is still a major motivator for his job. Recently Aryn, who is turning 18 next month, was admitted to Larbert Hospital for something his parents thought would be a simple in and out procedure. In the end, he was kept in for 16 days.
"That made us aware again how vulnerable our children can be from muscular dystrophy," said Dean. "You get long periods of everything being calm and OK and you begin to put it to the back of your mind but it suddenly comes to the forefront again when these issues happen. That brings back the drive to try to make a difference – that’s basically what I’m about, I’m a dad trying to make a difference.”
Annmarie Devlin from Sense Scotland was the winner of the Fundraising Excellence Award in memory of Ann Ward, one of Scotland’s best known and experienced fundraisers who passed away earlier this year after a short illness.
She said: “I’m absolutely delighted I’ve been in the third sector for a long time in a variety of roles. The charity I’m at now is very well known and has always had fundraising at its heart, in its very DNA. This is testament to the charity I work for. I’m proud to be part of that.”
Annemarie has led on the funding of two major capital projects, raising £1.5 million from grants and legacies and has brought in a number of large grants, including £616,000 from the Big Lottery Fund.
Voluntary Fundraising Group of the Year went to Team McKeown of Macmillan.
Team McKeown, fronted by Des and Carolyn McKeown, is a group of 20 people who have raised £750,000 since 2003, and £80,000 of that has been in the past 15 months.
As well as fundraising, they give motivational talks and raise the charity's profile.
Des McKeown said: “We’re truly humbled. This is for the efforts of hundreds of people it’s not just about Carolyn and myself, and most importantly, it’s testament to the work Macmillan and its supporers do. And first and foremnost we want to raise funds and awareness of Macmillan’s services."
Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year went to Dr Fiona McLeod, also for Macmillan.
She told TFN: “I’m totally shocked – there were some amazing other candidates. I was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancerin in January and Macmillan were just a brilliant support for me.
"Friends and family were asking me what they could dop to help them. So I set up a Justgiving page and friends and family started donating – we had coffee mornings, a ball, we had strangers donating as well. It’s all because Macmillan has touched so many people’s lives. So fare we’ve raised £15,000 – it’s been brilliant.”
Best Use of Event or Community Fundraising Initiative went to the Ayrshire Hospice for its Colour Dash, a fun event aimed at getting younger people and families involved with the work of the hospice.
Tracey Corrigan, assistant fundraising manager, said: "We’re absolutely delighted to have won this award. A new event is always a risk but we’re absolutely astounded byt how much we raised from the public – £58,000 and 91% of participants were new to the hopspice as well."
Veterans' charity Erskine won the Best Donor Development Campaign award.
Peter MacFarlane, individual giving manager, said: "We are absolutely delighted because it’s not easy in this day and age to do something that really stands out and it’s an important year for Erskine – it’s our 100th year, working to care for veterans, so it really means a lot to have won it this year.”
Val Morgan, communications manager for the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (Sciaf), praised the efforts of the aforementioned Ann Ward in helping them win Best Marketing and Communications Campaign for its Wee Red Box Appeal.
He said: "The team is really proud to accept the award. I think it’s also a great tribute to a colleague of ours who led the team that won the campaign and who unfortunately is no longer with us. A huge amount of praise and thanks should go to Ann Ward.”
Finally, Seamab, a charity supporting children suffering from loss, abuse, neglect and trauma, won the Best Partner Realationship award for its work with design agency StudioLR.
It created a new brand for the charity, helping Seamab to better tell its story.
Susie Wilkinson, fundraising manager, said: “We’re absolutely blown away. None of us expected it but it’s testament to the fantastic branding that StudioLR has given us. It’s not just a fundraising award it’s about how we market Seamab and how we tell people about what it is we do to help our children. It’s so unusual to get a design agency that understands what we're doing for children and which translates that into something everyone understands.”
The awards are organised by the Institute of Fundraising Scotland and held as part of its Scottish Fundraising Conference.
Chair of the Institute of Fundraising’s Conference Organising Committee Gary Kernahan said: “The class of 2016 and our winners have demonstrated that despite a tough year behind us, Scotland’s fundraisers have worked harder than ever.
“I’d like to congratulate each of our winners this year on making it through a very tough selection process, and their respective work to raise awareness and make a difference to so many vital causes. The annual awards are a perfect opportunity to showcase and recognise the very best of fundraising in Scotland.”
