Meet the 2025 Social Innovation Challenge Finalists
Meet the incredible finalists for this year’s Social Innovation Challenge, each leading bold, creative projects to build a fairer, more inclusive and prosperous Scotland.
Launched in May with a renewed focus, the 2025 Challenge invited innovative solutions aligned with the First Minister’s priorities. After an incredibly competitive judging process, three outstanding social enterprises have been chosen to move closer towards securing the £50,000 prize.
About the Social Innovation Challenge
The Social Innovation Challenge helps kick-start innovative social enterprise solutions addressing some of the most complex challenges of our times. Each year, it supports projects tackling these issues in creative, sustainable, and effective ways.
This year, we invited applications under the four priority themes:
- Eradicating child poverty
- Growing the economy
- Tackling the climate emergency
- Ensuring high-quality, sustainable public services
And for the first time, the judging panel will be able to award three prizes:
- A £50,000 award is up for grabs for the overall winner
- The two runners-up can also secure up to £25,000 to develop their ideas further
Meet This Year’s Finalists
After reviewing dozens of applications, we are excited to introduce this year’s shortlist:
Kinlochleven Climbing CIC
Mission: Reopen and revitalise the National Ice Climbing Centre in Kinlochleven.
Point Five Climbing, the trading name for Kinlochleven Climbing CIC, plans to breathe new life into this iconic “Electric Village” building, transforming it into a world-class climbing destination and vibrant community hub. Alongside climbing facilities, the centre will feature a café and event space celebrating local heritage. The project will boost wellbeing, create jobs, and showcase how sustainable tourism can directly benefit local communities.
Shore Psychology CIC
Mission: Make trauma-informed, neuro-inclusive mental health care accessible to everyone.
Shore Psychology is a community of health professionals tackling the gap in psychological support for vulnerable and marginalised groups. They reinvest revenue from their private clinic to fund free one-to-one and group therapy sessions and neurodiversity assessments for people referred through charity partners, ensuring that expert care reaches those who need it most.
Thrive East Lothian CIC
Mission: Create an inclusive, low-cost nursery to tackle childcare inequality and child poverty.
Back for a second year on the shortlist, Thrive East Lothian CIC is launching a trauma-informed, singalong-integrated nursery for children aged 0–5. Their flexible, community-rooted approach supports working parents, reduces pressure on public services, and generates local jobs through apprenticeships and volunteering. It’s a trusted, community-led solution to one of Scotland’s most pressing needs.
Meet the 2025 Judging Panel
Our judges bring a wealth of experience in social enterprise, innovation, and policy. They’ll hear pitches from the finalists in early November before selecting the overall winner.
- Kirstie Penman – Head of Programmes at Firstport, experienced in grant-making and third sector development. Kirstie oversees the delivery of Firstport’s awards programmes and works closely with our programme managers and relationship management team to support applicants and awardees across Scotland.
- Manish Joshi – Professor of Practice for Social Innovation at the University of Strathclyde; founder of several national social innovation initiatives. Manish’s work champions a place-based approach to innovation, connecting the third sector, public services, industry, academia, and communities to tackle complex social challenges.
- Matthew Foulds – Economic Development professional, social entrepreneur, and member of Firstport’s Board. Matthew has co-founded ventures across the food and drink, e-commerce, and health and wellbeing sectors. He is passionate about using his insight and experience to support others on their entrepreneurial journeys.
- Shiona Ruhemann – Policy and community development expert with global experience designing and delivering all scales of programmes and projects (both as funder and funding recipient), including leading on a previous Social Innovation Challenge award winner.
What Happens Next?
The 2025 Social Innovation Challenge winner will be announced at the Social Enterprise Scotland Awards on 6th November in Glasgow.
We wish Kinlochleven Climbing CIC, Shore Psychology CIC, and Thrive East Lothian CIC – three shining examples of innovation with purpose – all the best for the next stage of the Social Innovation Challenge.
Learn more about past winners and how the Challenge works on our Social Innovation Challenge page. For any questions, reach out at info@firstport.org.uk.