PRESTONPANS dad Iain Scott has received an award for being an outstanding student at a prestigious event in Glasgow.

Iain, who is a student at Queen Margaret University, received the Herald Higher Education Award for his voluntary work both at the Musselburgh university and in his community.

The 31-year-old father of four was recognised for work with DadsWork and Support from the Start, as well as securing funding for a pilot project of his own initiative ‘Cooking for Life’, which saw four eight-week courses for families from deprived areas, enhancing their cooking, meal planning and budgeting skills.

This year he is working with Prestonpans Infant School and Support from the Start to offer a summer lunch club at the local primary school, ensuring children in the most deprived areas access healthy, nutritious meals throughout the summer holidays.

Iain said: “Being nominated and winning this award is an amazing feeling and enhances the wonderful opportunities I’ve been privileged to experience.

“I’ve come a long way in the last seven years from being a single father of three young children, with university being a distant twinkle in my aspirations, to my settled family home life with my wife and four children.

“Being able to enjoy the student experiences within Queen Margaret University, working with wonderful people both within the university and the wider community, allows me the chance to give back the support and care to those in need as I received in my time of need.

“I’m truly grateful for the acknowledgment of my ongoing efforts to enhance and support the lives of those around me and I’ll continue to strive to inspire my children, work to the best of my ability to support others both in university and in my community and the completion of my degree in dietetics.”

Callum Maguire, head of outreach and community engagement at QMU, said: “Iain is an outstanding student ambassador for the university.

“As a dedicated father of four young children, and an NHS shift worker, he is a shining example to all students of what can be achieved during the university journey when applying excellent time management, commitment, vision and a ‘can-do’ selfless attitude.

“Iain epitomises QMU’s values by actively creating effective solutions to social inclusion issues. His dedication to the application of academic knowledge in food, nutrition and dietetics results in significant improvements in the lives of marginalised groups.”