Robin Ash, a passionate advocate and educator at Deaf-led charity SignHealth, was honoured with the prestigious Charity Champion Award at the ScottishPower Foundation Awards 2025. Honoured for his groundbreaking work improving healthcare access for the Deaf community, Robin’s win included £10,000 in additional funding for the London-based charity to expand its life-changing work.

Drawing on lived experience, Robin travels across England and Wales delivering British Sign Language (BSL) workshops empowering Deaf people to understand their rights under the Accessible Information Standard (AIS) and advocate for themselves in medical settings. His sessions also support healthcare professionals in meeting AIS requirements – a vital step, given that only 35% currently receive regular training.

SignHealth’s research reveals that 81% of Deaf patients have attended appointments where their communication needs weren’t met. Thanks to Robin’s workshops, many professionals now routinely ask about communication needs and ensure BSL interpreters are booked in advance.

Known for his warmth, patience and tireless commitment, Robin often works evenings and weekends to reach more communities. His workshops are fully booked for the next year – a testament to their impact. Judges praised Robin for building change from the ground up and helping create a more inclusive health service.

Robin, Community Engagement Officer at SignHealth said, “I’m honoured to have my work recognised by the ScottishPower Foundation. Campaigning for fair and equal healthcare access for Deaf people has been my lifelong passion. This prize money will help our fantastic team here at SignHealth to reach even more people within the Deaf community, delivering life-saving workshops across the country.”

The £10,000 prize money for Robin’s recognition will be used to support the delivery of SignHealth’s Accessible Information Standard workshops and to grow the charity’s online Health Library. The AIS workshops are free to attend, and are already fully booked for the next year, showing how urgently they are needed within deaf communities. The funding will help cover the essential costs of running the workshops to ensure SignHealth can provide the vital support.

Melanie Hill, Executive Officer and Trustee at the ScottishPower Foundation, said, “At the ScottishPower Foundation, we believe in the power of people to change lives – and this year’s Award winners have done just that. Their passion, resilience and creativity are nothing short of inspiring.
“Stories like Robin’s are the reason we do this. Every winner is a true champion, tackling vital challenges. We’re incredibly proud to support these changemakers who are lighting up communities, breaking down barriers and building a brighter future for all. It’s a privilege to stand beside them and help their impact grow.”

Further details on the winners and runners-up are available on the ScottishPower Foundation website: scottishpowerfoundation.com.