As a proud partner of the Pride of Scotland Awards, we love to see extraordinary people being celebrated for their resilience, heroics and triumphs.

Celebrating the Pride of Scotland

Not all heroes wear capes, but some of them wear kilts!
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We believe that amazing people should be recognised for the incredible things they do. That’s why we’re honoured to partner with the Pride of Scotland Awards, the annual event that pays tribute to some of the country’s most extraordinary folk.&nbsp;

The P&O Cruises Inspiration Award

<h2>The P&amp;O Cruises Inspiration Award</h2>
It gives us immense pride to lend our name to the P&amp;O Cruises Inspiration Award, which celebrates individuals or groups of people who’ve shown incredible bravery or kindness, or have gone above and beyond to make a positive impact on others.
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In 2025 this special honour was awarded to the Ups &amp; Downs Theatre Group as it celebrated 30 years of empowering young people with Down syndrome through music, dance, and drama. Based in South Lanarkshire, the group was founded by three music teachers who recognised that young people with the condition often show strong musicality and a love for theatre.
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Every Sunday, Ups &amp; Downs Theatre Group welcomes around 70 participants, along with their siblings, to share their passion for performing arts. It’s also a great place to form friendships and build life skills, and for families to support each other. And the group often shares its magic with the world. In March each year, it holds a week’s worth of sell-out performances to show the cast’s amazing talents and promote the positives that come with Down syndrome. And in November 2025, the group even supported Scottish singer-songwriter Callum Beattie at his sold-out show at the 14,000-capacity Ovo Hydro arena in Glasgow!

A perfect partnership

<h2>A perfect partnership</h2>
We knew from the start that a collaboration between P&amp;O Cruises and the Pride of Scotland Awards was a natural fit. We share a love for bringing people together to create unforgettable moments – all the while celebrating our brilliant Scottish heritage.
 
Our holidays transport you to a world of possibilities, where the journey is as exciting as the destinations and the memories stay with you for a lifetime. As the Pride of Scotland Awards inspires the nation to connect with others and make the world a little bit brighter, we feel privileged to have found such a perfect partner.

The 2026 Awards

<h2>Meet the Wedding Wish Makers, P&amp;O Cruises Inspiration Award Winners at the 2026 Pride of Scotland Awards</h2>
In Renfrew, neighbours and friends Suzanne Stevenson, Lauren Roy‑Sutherland and Lee Anne Gentles have become real‑life fairy godmothers for couples facing the most difficult of circumstances. Together, they founded Wedding Wish Makers, a volunteer‑led organisation devoted to creating dream weddings for people whose final wish is to marry the love of their life while there’s still time.
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Through online fundraising and the generosity of the wedding industry, the trio bring together everything a couple needs for a magical day — from celebrants and cakes to dresses, flowers and pipers. Each wedding is delivered at remarkable speed, often with only days to plan, yet every time the public rallies to make the impossible possible.
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Suzanne’s inspiration dates back to 2012, when she helped organise a wedding for a terminally ill bride while working as a catering manager. The experience stayed with her, eventually leading to the creation of Wedding Wish Makers in 2021.
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“I kept thinking why does this service not exist for terminally ill people?,” she says. “We thought, why not us?”.
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For Lauren, the work has revealed not only the heartbreak many families face, but also the extraordinary kindness of strangers. And for Suzanne, the mission remains simple: “Making memories is what it is all about because our brides and grooms do not have that much time left”.

What is the Pride of Scotland Awards?

<h2>What is the Pride of Scotland Awards?</h2>
The Daily Record Pride of Scotland Awards, with P&amp;O Cruises, celebrates Scots who are transforming the lives of the people around them.
 
Each year, the spotlight shines on otherwise unsung heroes. The award winners, of all ages and from all walks of life, are chosen by the Pride of Scotland judging panel after thousands of public nominations. Their achievements are celebrated at a glittering ceremony, which is always an inspiring highlight on the nation’s calendar. And, while many famous faces from across Scotland and beyond take part in this special evening, the real stars are the winners – ‘ordinary’ people who’ve done extraordinary things.

Highlights of the day

<h2>Highlights of the day</h2>
On Monday 8 June, Glasgow hosted some of Scotland’s most extraordinary people for the 2026 Daily Record Pride of Scotland Awards with P&amp;O Cruises. The awards celebrate the country’s unsung heroes, and the event is one of the most anticipated in the national calendar.
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The excitement built on the red carpet, where winners and famous faces mingled and made their way into the ballroom of the Hilton Glasgow for an evening of celebration.
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The glittering ceremony was filled with emotion as the winners’ stories were told, including Jack Blaik OBE, who took home the Lifetime Achievement Award for helping found children’s hospices, and nine-year-old Noah Connell, who overcame bullying for his rare genetic condition to raise funds for other children. Tracey Howe, who walked 5,000 miles around the coast of Britain and raised money for charity in memory of her wife, was honoured with the Fundraiser of the Year Award and was also gifted a P&amp;O Cruises holiday.
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We’re so proud to support such an incredible event, and we extend our sincerest thanks and congratulations to all of this year’s winners.

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Celebrating the Pride of Scotland

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