Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB), Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), Age Concern Scotland, Disability Scotland and NCH Action for Children today launched a unique partnership with ScottishPower.

PowerPartners is a three-year initiative with key objectives to raise income to fund social investment projects in Scotland, raise awareness of special needs in the community, work with the partner charities to develop services to customers with special needs and encourage staff participation in charitable causes.

Ian Robinson, Chief Executive, ScottishPower commented: "I believe this is a groundbreaking initiative which will enable all ScottishPower staff to give extra special support to the elderly, disabled people and to young people in all our local communities. The funds that we raise over the next three years will help projects planned by all the charities and will hopefully increase awareness of special needs groups within the community."

Jackie Baillie MSP, Deputy Minister for Communities, said : "I am delighted to see ScottishPower leading this important partnership and commend the commitment shown by all partners. This is an excellent example of the real value such effective partnerships can add to our communities and I am pleased that such a broad range of people will benefit from the work of those involved in delivering PowerPartners".

The fundraising target for the three-year period is £3 million. This will be achieved through staff fundraising, customer appeals and company donations. Projects will be proposed by the charities, which will be reviewed and funding allocated by the Board of Trustees. A full time professional charity co-ordinator has been appointed to manage the Partnership.

Director of Disability Scotland, Bob Benson, commented:  "This is a significant and unique partnership between five leading charities and ScottishPower, which will bring enormous benefit to older people, disabled people, children and their families. We are proud to be working with ScottishPower, its staff and customers, in such a positive way".

Lilian Lawson, Director, RNID Scotland, added: "We are delighted to play a part in PowerPartners. The support of ScottishPower and its staff will enable RNID to continue to break down the barriers for Scotland's million deaf and hard of hearing people."

Further Press Information :
Gordon Laidlaw, ScottishPower Press Office, 0141 248 8200.

POWER PARTNERS FACT SHEET

The Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) is the largest charity representing the needs of 8.7 million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK. As a membership charity, we aim to achieve a radically better quality of life for deaf and hard of hearing people. We do this by campaigning and lobbying vigorously, by raising awareness of deafness and hearing loss, by providing services and through social, medical and technical research. For further press information contact David Barker, Head of Media Relations, RNID on 0171 296 8136 or email david.barker@rnid.org.uk

The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) is the leading charity offering practical support, information and advice to anyone with a serious sight problem in the UK. Sight loss is one of the most common causes of disability in this country, with 1.7 million people experiencing serious sight problems. RNIB also funds research into the prevention and cure of sight threatening eye conditions and promotes eye health education in order to reduce the incidence of avoidable sight loss. For further press information contact Ciara Smyth or Rachel Morgan, RNIB Press Office on 0171 391 2223.

NCH Action for Children is one of the largest child care charities in the UK. It runs 44 projects in Scotland and 370 across the whole of the UK, providing a wide range of high quality services to some of the country's most vulnerable families and young people. These include family support centres; respite care centres for children with learning disabilities; support services for children who care for disabled relatives; emergency accommodation and support for homeless young people; and intensive probation schemes which are helping to turn young people away from a life of crime. The charity works in partnership with local authorities, the health service and the Government to provide essential services to thousands of families in need. For further press information contact David Pettigrew, NCH Action for Children on 0141 332 4041.

Disability Scotland/Disability Wales/RADAR England

Disability Scotland and their sister organisations Disability Wales and RADAR England, work to educate and inform the wider community about issues, which affect disabled people. Their membership includes charities, voluntary groups and agencies dealing with disability. Disability Scotland is best know for work as an umbrella organisation that supports its membership through information exchange, policy development and joint action to improve the quality of life of disabled people. The organisation addresses all areas of disability including all impairments caused by physical or sensory loss, mental health disorders and learning difficulties.For further press information contact Bob Benson, Director or Anne Dowell, Disability Scotland on 0131 221 7005.

Age Concern Scotland is a charity which works on a variety of issues connected to age and ageing. Its commitment is to improving and maintaining the quality of life of older people through the provision of practical services locally. At a national level, the organisation provides information, training and support to any individual or group with an interest in older people. The organisation campaigns against age discrimination, raises public awareness about issues affecting older people and seeks to influence policies and decisions that have an impact on older people. For further press information contact Linda Dunion, Age Concern on 0131 220 3345.