Great news! Growing2gether have been shortlisted for a Scottish Charity Award!
Growing2gether have been selected as a possible winner for the Pioneering Project Award! We are in the running alongside 5 other projects from across the country. This award would mean so much to us. If that wasn’t enough, we are also in with the chance to win The People’s Project Award. We would be honoured to win and you can help us get there.
Here’s what project director, Diana Whitmore, said:
Being short listed for a Scottish Charity Award (Pioneering Project) is an honour which
we are thrilled to receive. It reflects the pride that we feel for the incredible young people
that we serve, who teach us so much and show us their greatness, fundamental
goodness and generosity of spirit.
Growing2gether is a pioneering programme unique to Scotland, which transforms the lives of young people and the children they mentor. It is the only programme in Scotland which pairs young people as mentors to nursery children needing extra support and combines this with life skills coaching. The young people, who are facing challenges, experience the joy of helping the child. They feel good about themselves and their future and we highlight their unique skills. 71% of young people said Growing2gether made them feel more confident.
I finally feel I am ok as a person. I always thought everyone else was better than me. This group helped me try different things.”
The children, chosen because they could benefit from mentoring, learn vital skills to help them thrive in school and life. Since 2017, we have transformed the lives of 464 young people/children: 71% of young
people said Growing2gether made them feel more confident; we improve mental health by 24%.
I could have gone down a really bad road at one time. Knowing what I want to do has made all the difference.
It’s really quite simple. Vote for us! To win the People’s Project Award we need as many people as possible to vote for Growing2gether. To vote click here, all you need is an email address, it’s really that simple!
Join our dedicated team of volunteers and experience the joy of giving back, while making a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals and the community
Your contribution has the power to make a difference in the lives of those in need, enabling us to continue our vital work and create positive change
“Building a world where every young person thrives.”
Ecologia Youth Trust supports children and young people to shape their futures sustainably. Keep up to date with our activities and projects by following us on social media!
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*Names have been changed according to our child protection policy.
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Susie has 30+ experience as a creative copywriter, editor, and proofreader, starting out as a 20-year-old copywriter in the Mad Men world of early 1990s advertising in South Africa. Ever since, she’s had a love affair with creative conceptualisation, thinking outside of the box, writing to a deadline, and being thrown in the deep end!
She took an MSc in Publishing at Edinburgh Napier University as a mature student, in 2015, and continues to keep herself busy working as a copy-editor, proofreader and copywriter in book publishing, corporate communications, and publishing project management.
Apart from her love of working with independent authors, Susie has a fondness for working in the third sector and likes to use her corporate communications and marketing experience to support projects close to her heart. She has lived and worked in the Findhorn area for 25 years, and has been involved in a number of third sector projects and organisations, and family businesses.
Working at Ecologia Youth Trust helps Susie to live in integrity with her values of supporting the next generation to be the best that they can be, and she sees it as a way to give back to Mama Africa, the beloved continent on which she was born.
Ellen joined the Ecologia team in June 2018 as Marketing and Communications Manager. Ellen has lived in Scotland for 6 years and has worked for non-profit and charitable organisations across varied fields. She currently shares her passion for helping young people through Ecologia Youth Trust and she works as a dancer and dance teacher in her spare time.
Robyn is the Associate Director of International Projects, having previously worked within the team as a Project Development and Marketing Officer from April 2019 until May 2021. As Associate Director, Robyn is co-leading the International side of Ecologia with Founder and Director, Liza Hollingshead, bringing a new energy into Ecologia as they look towards the future of the charity.
Liza is the founder of Ecologia and Director of International Projects. She was born and educated in South Africa and worked there as a high school teacher. She moved to live in the Findhorn Community in 1974. She started Ecologia in 1995 after being introduced to Dmitry Morozov, the founder of Kitezh Children’s Community in Russia, and was inspired to support the community in its mission to rescue orphaned children from institutions and give them homes, families and education in a supportive environment.
This led to projects supporting disadvantaged youth and children in South East Asia and in East Africa. TRead more about Liza’s story here.
