Local Hero scoops top National Award

Dundee PC Sandra Hutton won the News of the World Bighearted Scot of the year award in a star studded ceremony in Glasgow recently.

She received her award from First Minister, Alex Salmond for her work in raising over £100,000 for Dundee charity Eighteen And Under and for her voluntary work in the community helping disadvantaged children.

This is her second award this year. In March she was declared winner of the Wave 102 Local Hero Award.

Over the last few years, Sandra has spent hours writing letters asking businesses and other organisations to support Eighteen And Under, often before or after her full time shifts as a police officer.

In addition, she realised that children in the Kirkton area of Dundee were greatly in need of diversionary activities to keep them out of trouble, raise their self-confidence and teach them new skills. She persuaded a local charity Kirkton Community Support to provide a venue free of charge, found a drum teacher to teach for free, involved Eighteen And Under in the work, raised funds for drums and equipment and set up a samba drumming group for the local children.

Sandra runs this group every Monday evening and the children have gone on to perform publicly. This group has now been running for over 2 years and many disadvantaged children have benefited from being involved in it.

On receiving the award, Sandra said ‘I really can’t believe it. I thought I was just coming along for my dinner! I never actually expected to win.’

Laurie Matthew, Coordinator of Eighteen And Under said, ‘Sandra is one of those selfless people who, rather than moaning about things not being right, just gets on and made a difference. Thousands of young people have benefited from Sandra’s time and effort, both in raising funds to help us support young people who have been abused and to develop our award winning VIP (Violence is Preventable) programme. Not only that, she spends time with children in Kirkton, engaging them in an activity which puts smiles on their faces and keeps them out of trouble.’

Many of the young people who have benefited from Sandra’s efforts will be at Eighteen And Under’s premises to welcome her, with her Trophy, on Wednesday 12 September at 4.30pm. Sandra has pledged to leave the trophy in pride of place there, as she says ‘It’ll really mean something to Eighteen And Under to think that other people value the work that goes on there.’

Notes for editors

Sandra will be available for interview and photographs on Wednesday at 4.30pm at Eighteen And Under, 1 Victoria Road, Dundee.

About Eighteen And Under

Eighteen And Under is a registered charity, based in Dundee that offers confidential support and information to any young person, aged 18 and under, who has experienced sexual, physical or emotional abuse. The charity is a member of the World Health Organisation’s Global Alliance for the Prevention of Violence and they have helped thousands of young people in the Dundee area and throughout the UK over the last 13 years. For more information, visit their website at www.18u.org.uk.

About the VIP Programme

The VIP Programme is a multi award winning abuse prevention programme for children, young people and vulnerable adults throughout the UK.
It works on three levels:-
? Early disclosures - meaning abuse is stopped sooner
? Staying safe - avoiding violent or abusive situations
? Changing the mindset of potential abusers of the future.
The programme has won many national and international awards, including
2006 Scottish Social Services Council Care Accolades
SPECIAL COMMENDATION
2006 Scottish Crime-Stoppers–Community Safety Award
WINNER
2005 News of the World Children's Champion's individual award for Co-coordinator.
2005 Dundee Partnership Awards–Community Safety Award
WINNER
2004 Women in Cities International & International Centre for the
Prevention of Crime - Safety Award
For more information about the VIP programme visit www.violenceispreventable.org.uk.

Some Statistics (From the WHO)