The founders of a Glasgow homeless charity have been recognised for their efforts by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Colin McInnes and Fraser Riddell, who founded Homeless Project Scotland in 2019, are today's recipients of the Points of Light Award, which recognises outstanding individual volunteers and people who are making a change in their community.
The charity operates a soup kitchen three nights per week under the Hielanman's Umbrella on Argyle Street that currently feeds around 300 people a week with over 1,000 hot meals, and has also built up a fleet of vans to collect furniture and distribute these to people who need help with setting up a home.
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In 2021 Colin, Fraser and their volunteers ran 144 soup kitchens, provided 55,000 litres of hot food, topped up over 200 mobile phones, delivered well over 2,000 toiletry packages, and worked with 32 local authorities to help house homeless individuals or those with drug and alcohol issues, dealing with over 40 referrals per day.
About the Points of Light Award, Colin said: “I am delighted to receive this award on behalf of Homeless Project Scotland. This Project would not succeed without the wonderful team of volunteers who all dedicate so much of their time and work tirelessly to helping the homeless and vulnerable in our community across Scotland.
"It is a great honour for me to accept this award on everyone’s behalf. I am very humbled that Boris Johnson has taken the time to look at our wonderful charity and give us recognition. We will continue to serve 1,000 meals a week to our homeless and the most vulnerable in our community.”
Fraser added: “It is humbling and exciting to have been recognised to receive this prestigious award. I would like to thank all the volunteers who help us make the difference and demonstrating the impact we all make on our communities across Scotland. Thank you to Boris Johnson for taking the time to appreciate me and our charity.”
