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Celia Tennant - Inspiring Scotland

Senior Leadership

Chief Executive

Celia Tennant

Celia Tennant

Celia is passionate about building a better Scotland. She has been with Inspiring Scotland since launch in 2008, leading on its inaugural 14:19 employability fund as Head of Funds, before becoming Chief Executive in 2013. Inspiring Scotland pioneered venture philanthropy in Scotland and is one the largest VP organisations in the world, bringing a multi-investor, long term funding and high engagement approach to working with charities who are addressing social issues across Scotland.

Celia brings extensive experience from the private sector and is passionate about the potential of people and communities to create lasting positive change. Instrumental in Inspiring Scotland’s start-up phase, and as a social entrepreneur who makes things happen, Celia is a champion of collaborative working to tackle deep-rooted social problems.

As Chief Executive Celia has shaped Inspiring Scotland’s values and vision, and she brings the same commitment and drive to a range of Non-Executive roles. She is a Director of The Entrepreneurial Scotland Foundation, a Trustee of Winning Scotland Foundation and a Trustee of Royal Albert Cycling Club SCIO. She is an Advisor to Common Purpose Scotland and sits on the Child Poverty Programme Board as well as the Governance Board of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit. Celia is also proud to be a Global Celt.

Celia is also an enthusiastic advocate of the power of sport to break down barriers and inspire people. She is a British Cycling coach in track, mountain bike, road and time-trial and co-founded the Clydesdale Colts youth cycling group in Lanarkshire.

Inspiring Scotland’s Annual Report 2023-24 published
10.12.2024

Inspiring Scotland’s Annual Report 2023-24 published

The annual report provides an overview of the work undertaken to deliver on our strategic priorities and mission to improve the lives of people across Scotland. Last year Inspiring Scotland managed 16 funding programmes delivering to our strategic priorities ‘Improving Life Chances for Children and Young People’ and ‘Flourishing Lives’. We managed over £46m of

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Delivering Equally Safe (DES) supports 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence with report launch.
26.11.2024

Delivering Equally Safe (DES) supports 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence with report launch.

Monday 25 November, Minister for Equalities, Kaukab Stewart marked the start of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence by sharing Delivering Equally Safe’s latest six month Impact Report at a visit to funded project Monklands Women’s Aid. Monklands Women’s Aid supported 331 women and 109 children and young people in the six month period through

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Support for survivors of childhood abuse
22.11.2024

Support for survivors of childhood abuse

“We are deeply grateful for this opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of survivors, guiding them towards a brighter and more hopeful future.”   A new phase of the Scottish Government’s Survivors of Childhood Abuse Support (SOCAS) fund has now started. 22 third sector organisations across Scotland will share the £3.3m over

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