Humanitarian award

NOMINATIONS are now open for the 2026 Robert Burns Humanitarian Award. It celebrates those who step up in times of crisis and dedicate themselves to helping others — and the organisers want to hear about people whose compassion and courage make the world a better place? The award was established in honour of Scotland’s national poet to recognise individuals and groups who have made outstanding contributions to human rights, social justice, and progress worldwide, reflecting the compassion and humanity that Burns himself championed. The winner receives the equivalent of 1759 guineas — a symbolic sum reflecting the year of Robert Burns’ birth and the currency of his day — now valued at £1800. Last year’s winner was Canadian volunteer Garth Knox, whose decades-long humanitarian work with GlobalMedic has supported disaster-struck communities and Ukrainian refugees across Moldova and beyond. The call is now out for nominations for 2026. They can be submitted online at www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/robert-burns-award until Friday September 26