The awards are an annual ceremony from the Sunday Mail championing everything that’s great about Scotland.

The project has been placed in the brand-new National Lottery category and is up against three other finalists. A grant of more than £325,000, made possible by National Lottery players, was awarded to the project last year through the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Anchor and Sail

The Clyde was once a major hub for shipbuilding and Govan was at its heart. Today the river is noticeably quieter and runs through a dramatically different Glasgow. The Anchor and Sail project, led by GalGael Trust and in partnership with the Clyde Maritime Trust, is dedicated to keeping this heritage and the centuries of skills from being lost forever.

By the end of the project more than 200 people from the Govan community – particularly those facing illness, unemployment and other issues – are being recruited to realise this vision and are being rewarded with some amazing opportunities.

Inspirational personal stories

The project has been shortlisted because of the difference it has made to many people. Stories such as that of Jason Bradley illustrate this impact.

Jason had been recovering from ME and had been out of work for many years. On the advice of his disability support officer at the Job Centre he signed up for a workshop run by GalGael, the Trust which is now running the amazing National Lottery funded Anchor and Sail project.

[quote=Jason Bradley, project apprentice]“That was the day I had a bit of an epiphany about what I should be doing with myself.”[/quote]

What followed saw him develop traditional boatbuilding skills, join a two-year apprenticeship scheme and build a Caledonia Yawl from scratch. Now Jason is working in two youth focused projects – building wooden musical instruments and a small sailing boat. In his own words: “it’s pretty amazing.”

He also invited children from Arrochar Primary School into his workshop to see first-hand how he had built their boat themed playground. Passing down knowledge of his work and sharing stories of the River Clyde’s rich maritime history has sparked a passion for working with children.

How to find out more

The results of the Great Scot Awards will be announced on the 17 October in Glasgow. Join us on Twitter @HLFScotland to help us wish all involved in the Anchor and Sail project good luck and to celebrate your heritage champions. Also find out more on the Great Scot Awards 2015 website.