ORGANISERS have opened nominations for an annual humanitarian award inspired by Robert Burns.
Launched in 2002, the Robert Burns Humanitarian Award is given to people who have changed the lives of others or enhanced society through their own self-sacrifice.
Winners are given around £1800, which equates to 1759 guineas - a sum signifying the year of the Bard's birth and the currency of the time - along with a handcrafted award made in Scotland.
Although nominees can be from anywhere in the world, they should fall into at least one in a series of criteria, including helping others through the provision of clothes, food, shelter or education.
The gong is supported by South Ayrshire Council and Scotland's Winter festivals, with previous winners including Dumfries aid worker Khalil Dale OBE and Irish Peace campaigner Adi Roche.
Councillor Bill McIntosh, Chairman of the RBHA judging panel, said: “In the current global climate, it’s painfully obvious that we don’t all enjoy the same choices, freedoms and opportunities.
"The Robert Burns Humanitarian Award is all about looking for the people who refuse to tolerate this, stand up and do something about it and push the boundaries for social change.
“It doesn’t even have to be someone you know – it could be someone you know of or have heard about and that you know is doing some terrific work to make a difference for people in difficult and unimaginable situations.
“As our past finalists and winners show, nominees need to reflect Burns’ passion and determination for human rights and we know there’s lots of that on show every day, in every corner of the globe."
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