This year our three finalists in The Herald Scottish Politician of the Year Award category at The Herald Scottish Politician of the Year Awards 2025 in association with ScottishPower have nominated a charity of their choice to benefit from our fundraising on the evening. During the event we will be collectively fundraising for the three chosen charities. The winner of The Herald Scottish Politician of the Year Award will have 50% of the proceedings donated to their chosen charity, with the other two receiving 25% of the total each.

CHARITIES

Jackie Baillie MSP Chosen Charity - Mentor Scotland

Mentor Scotland believes that connection lies at the heart of good mental health and wellbeing. The organisation provides a safe, non-judgemental space where individuals can share experiences, find understanding, and help break the stigma surrounding mental health. Through talking groups, health walks, cold water therapy, badminton sessions, and drop-ins, Mentor Scotland fosters a welcoming community built on genuine connection and peer support.

Based in West Dunbartonshire, Mentor Scotland creates positive change by bringing people together who have lived experience of mental health challenges. This peer-led approach builds resilience, confidence, and a sense of belonging among participants.

As the organisation continues to grow, it is partnering with local groups, charities, and services to expand access to support across new areas. Mentor Scotland’s mission is to reduce isolation, prevent suicide, and ensure no one feels ashamed to ask for help—breaking the stigma around mental health, together.

First Minister, John Swinney MSP Chosen Charity - MS Society

MS is common in Scotland, with over 17,000 people affected. The MS Society is the UK's largest charity for people affected by multiple sclerosis. It funds vital research to find new treatments and a cure, provides information and support services, and campaigns for the rights of the MS community. Its mission is to stop MS and ensure no one faces the condition alone by funding pioneering research, providing support services, and campaigning for change. Since 1953, the charity has invested over £260 million into research, contributing to major breakthroughs like the first MRI scanner for MS research and innovative clinical trials like the Octopus trial for progressive MS. The Society also provides crucial, practical support through its helpline, financial grants, and a wide network of local volunteer groups that help combat the social isolation many people with MS experience.

In addition to research and direct support, the MS Society campaigns to influence policy and improve the lives of those affected by MS. Its advocacy work includes lobbying governments on issues like access to treatments and fair disability benefits through campaigns like "MS Enough," and raising awareness about the realities of living with MS. By bringing together a community of people with MS, researchers, and volunteers, the organisation works towards a future where no one is impacted by the effects of the disease.

Kate Forbes MSP Chosen Charity - Deep Griha Society

A guiding light in the dark. A ray of hope. Deep Griha Society supports low-income communities in Pune through education, healthcare, and livelihood programmes. Among its most vital initiatives is a rural home for vulnerable children aged 5 to 16 who have lost parents or whose families are unable to care for them. Some arrived as young as five, alone in the city and at risk.

Now, in the safety of the village home, they attend school, receive care, and have the chance to rebuild their lives. Facilities are minimal, sustained entirely by charitable support. Funding is urgently needed for clothing and to improve the outdoor and play areas, which are currently old and unsafe.

From a one-room clinic in 1975 to a network of urban and rural programmes, Deep Griha continues to bring light, learning, and dignity to those who need it most.