Wallace went to London, with Margaret Anne Gachagan and Graham Walkinshaw (two people who have been instrumental in the concept and form of E-AID) to the Houses of Parliament as theScottish regional finalist of the TalkTalk Digital Heroes Awards and secured the £5000.00 prize for the project,
This money and the publicity associated with such a prestigious Award is a great boost to the project.
Funding is in place to allow the Directory to register as a company limited by guarantee, with charitable status. This will be in place for the launch of the service in February/March 2010.
Thanks are due in a big way to the Lodging House Mission for the help and support that has been there,to start a pilot scheme and allow us to iron out a bug or two(or twenty or a hundred). This is in spite of huge changes that have been happening within the LHM itself. John Hamilton has now taken charge and has been supportive of the project from day one. Big thanks to Trina and the rest of the staff of the LHM, who have been so supportive during this time. There are some other heroes who have become volunteers with E-AID and I will name them when I am sure they are happy about me doing that very thing.
Previous NEWS is that Wallace Blake has WON the regional award for Scotland and progressed to the UK finals of the TalkTalk Digital Hero Awards.
This means that there is £5000.00 that will be available for the continuance of the service. The overall winner was announced at the awards ceremony, held in the Houses of Parliament on 24th November 2009. He was pipped at the post by another worthy service, but came home happy at the award and recognition that had been attained.
Not too shabby for the first year - or actually six or seven months since getting funding from First Port.