# National Trust for Scotland’s Fundraising and Philanthropy team win Fundraising Team of the year - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2025/09/24/national-trust-scotland-win-fundraising-team-of-the-year/ - Published: 2025-09-24T10:13:24+01:00 - Author: Howard Lake **The Scottish Fundraising Awards 2025 were announced last night at the annual Chartered Institute of Fundraising Scottish Fundraising Conference in Glasgow. Individuals, teams and charities were recognised for their outstanding fundraising.** Sponsored by THINK the Scottish Fundraising Awards were hosted by Zara Mohammed, the former Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain. ## Fundraising Team of the Year ![National Trust for Scotland's fundraising and philanthropy team winning best fundraising team at the 2025 Scottish Fundraising Awards](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/ 2025/09/Fundraising-Team-of-the-Year.jpg) National Trust for Scotland wins Fundraising Team of the Year award The Fundraising and Philanthropy Team at the **National Trust for Scotland** was named Fundraising Team of the Year after an exceptional year of achievement. They exceeded their £11.5 million target to raise £27.7 million. They also secured the largest individual major donor gift in the charity’s history, together with “unprecedented income from trusts, grants and legacies”. ## Advertisement [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/) They were praised not only for their outstanding fundraising skills but also “the strong relationships and collaborative spirit that underpin their work”. ## Rising Star award 2025 ![Mirren Wallace of Change Mental Health wins Rising Star award 2025](https://wfay6x. infiniteuploads.cloud/2025/09/Rising-Star.jpg) Mirren Wallace of Change Mental Health wins Rising Star award at the Scottish Fundraising Awards 2025. The Rising Star Award 2025 was presented to **Mirren Wallace** of **Change Mental Health**. She joined the charity in 2022 with no prior fundraising experience. Since then she has transformed the charity’s community and events income, growing it by 250% from £24,000 to £86,000 in just two years. To do so she has developed a diverse events portfolio, secured a £50,000 corporate partnership, and built “strong, compassionate relationships with supporters and colleagues”. She was commended for her creativity, empathy and drive. ## Fundraiser of the Year ![Lesley Parks of The Salvation Army wins Fundraiser of the Year](https://wfay6x. infiniteuploads.cloud/2025/09/Fundraiser-of-the-Year.jpg) Lesley Parks of The Salvation Army wins Fundraiser of the Year award at the Scottish Fundraising Awards 2025. Fundraiser of the Year was won by **Lesley Parks** of **The Salvation Army**. As Trust Fundraiser, in just two years, Lesley has secured £445,000 in grants, “ supporting thousands of beneficiaries across Scotland and Northern Ireland”. She achieved a 69% application success rate, including donations from nine new trusts and increased donations from 29 existing supporters. ## Fundraising Excellence Award ![Susan Williams wins Fundraising Excellence Award at the Scottish Fundraising Awards 2025.](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2025/09/Fundraising-Excellence-Awards. jpg) Susan Williams wins Fundraising Excellence Award at the Scottish Fundraising Awards 2025. The Fundraising Excellence Award 2025 was presented to **Susan Williams**. Over 25 years Susan has held senior roles at Children First, EMMS International and Mercy Corps, “consistently driving growth in individual giving and championing data-led fundraising”. In addition she has supported the fundraising profession as a long-standing volunteer with the Chartered Institute of Fundraising. The judges decided that “widely respected for her leadership, generosity and impact, Susan truly embodies excellence in fundraising”. ## The winners in full **Best Use of Event or Community Fundraising Initiative 2025** ![RNLI win best use of event and fundraising initiative award](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads. cloud/2025/09/Best-use-of-Event-and-Fundraising-Initiative.jpg) RNLI win best use of event and fundraising initiative award Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), Kirkcudbright Lifeboat Station Appeal **Best Individual Giving Campaign 2025** Scotland’s Air Charity Ambulance, SOS: Save our Summer ![Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance team with Criona Knight with their Scottish Fundraising Awards award.](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2025/09/FA7.jpg) Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance team with Críona Knight with their Scottish Fundraising Awards award **Best Legacy Campaign 2025** ![Shelter Scotland wins the Best Legacy Campaign award for The People’s Manifesto]( https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2025/09/Best-Legacy-Campaign.jpg) Shelter Scotland wins the Best Legacy Campaign award for The People’s Manifesto Shelter Scotland, The People’s Manifesto **Best Supporter Experience 2025** ![Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland win the Best Supporter Experience for The Forth Bridge Abseil](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2025/09/Best-Supporter-Experience. jpg) Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland win the Best Supporter Experience for The Forth Bridge Abseil Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, The Forth Bridge Abseil **Best Partner Relationship: Corporate Fundraising 2025** ![Positive Action in Housing and Scottish Gas Network win the Best Partner Relationship: Corporate Fundraising for The Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance Funding Scheme](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2025/09/Best-Partner-Relationship-Corporate- Fundraising.jpg) Positive Action in Housing and Scottish Gas Network win the Best Partner Relationship: Corporate Fundraising for The Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance Funding Scheme Positive Action in Housing and Scottish Gas Network, The Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance Funding Scheme **Best Partner Relationship: Trusts and Foundations 2025** ![National Trust for Scotland and People’s Postcode Lottery win the Best Partner Relationships: Trusts and Foundations for Postcode Earth Trust](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads. cloud/2025/09/Best-Partner-Relationship-Trusts-Foundations.jpg) National Trust for Scotland and People’s Postcode Lottery win the Best Partner Relationships: Trusts and Foundations for Postcode Earth Trust National Trust for Scotland and People’s Postcode Lottery, Postcode Earth Trust **Best Marketing and Communications Campaign 2025** Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance, ‘In Time’ Winter Appeal 2024 **Rising Star Award 2025** Mirren Wallace, Change Mental Health  **Fundraiser of the Year 2025** Lesley Parks, The Salvation Army **Fundraising Team of the Year 2025** The Fundraising and Philanthropy Team, National Trust for Scotland **Fundraising Excellence Award 2025** Susan Williams Sharryn McKelvie, Chair of the Scottish Fundraising Conference and Awards Committee and Head of Fundraising at Disability Snowsport UK, said: > “Charities depend on the commitment and creativity of fundraisers to deliver vital > services. As our sector continues to adapt to a fast-changing world, it’s more > important than ever to recognise the people driving that change… Huge congratulations > to everyone who was shortlisted – and to all our winners. You are a credit to > Scotland’s fundraising community, and we’re proud to celebrate your achievements.” * **[Foundation Scotland sees surge in enquiries for social investment opportunities](https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/09/10/foundation-scotland-sees-surge-in-enquiries-for-social-investment-opportunities/)( 10 September 2021) * **[Scottish Fundraising Conference 2023](https://fundraising.co.uk/2023/09/21/scottish-fundraising-conference-2023/)( 21 September 2023) * **[Katriona Carmichael becomes Scottish Charity Regulator CEO](https://fundraising.co.uk/2024/07/02/katriona-carmichael-becomes-scottish-charity-regulator-ceo/)( 2 July 2024)**