An ARDROSSAN based self-defence charity has reached the final of a national award celebrating equality and diversity.

A record breaking 64,000 people and organizations were nominated for the National Diversity Awards 2020.

And The Scottish Centre for Personal safety, based in the Barony St John Centre in Ardrossan, managed to impress the judges and secure a place on the shortlist for the Community Organization (multi-strand) category.

Representatives from ScotCPS and role models from across the UK will head to Liverpool Anglican Cathedral on February 26 (postponed from September due to the coronavirus) to witness the countries 2020 winners being crowned’.

Founder Alan Bell said: “We are thrilled to be notified that we have reached the final of the UK’s top award for diversity, especially as it comes hot on the heels of our charity being honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

“Diversity and equality for all are core values of our charity and we are proud to have been considered worthy enough to beat over 64,000 nominations to reach this final – which is pretty amazing when you consider that we only have 10 volunteers and an extremely small budget.”

ScotCPS provides life-changing training to female survivors of violence, people who are sensory impaired, children and youths (working in Auchenharvie Academy and Ardrossan Academy as well as providing services to youths on a local and national level e.g. The Princes Trust), minority ethnic groups such as Rainbow Muslim Women’s Group and Amina, the LGBTI community including Open Ayrshire LGBT Youth, and people with dwarfism including Short Stature Scotland and Restricted Growth UK.

Paul Sesay, founder and CEO of the National Diversity Awards said: “Congratulations to all of our shortlisted finalists, it is an honour to recognise your fearlessness, resilience and humanitarian efforts with the rest of the world.”