THE SCOTTISH CENTRE FOR PERSONAL SAFETY

That this House congratulates the Scottish Centre for Personal Safety (SCPS), based in Ardrossan in North Ayrshire, on winning the Pioneering Project Award at the recent Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations Charity Awards 2018; commends the fantastic work done by the charity and its volunteer instructors to provide personal safety courses for the blind and visually impaired; understands that 57 per cent of blind or visually impaired people have experienced hate crime because of their disability, and 73 per cent have report being frightened or attacked, experiencing verbal abuse and intimidation; notes that the SCPS has been running this course since 2017 with funding from the Big Lottery's Investing in Ideas Fund; recognises that the course has been well received by participants, who have noted reduced anxiety, stress levels and fear of crime, leaving them more confident and aware of how to deal with any verbal and physical confrontations that may occur; acknowledges that to win this award against stiff competition from other charities is a true testament to the wonderful work of the SCPS; and commends the charity for the truly excellent work it does to empower the blind and visually impaired.