Thank You

What are the Proud Scotland Awards?

The Proud Scotland Awards are an annual ceremony celebrating individuals and organizations that champion diversity and inclusion within Scotland's LGBTQI+ community.

They honour those who work to advance equality across various sectors, including community, corporate, education, and arts. The 2026 awards ceremony is held in Glasgow.

Caithness is celebrating a remarkable moment of recognition this year as four local nominees have secured places on the shortlist for the prestigious Proud Scotland Awards — a milestone that firmly places the county on the national LGBTQ+ map.

Among the honourees is myself, Darren Campbell, owner of Highland Gift Shop. I have been nominated for Community Ally for the second consecutive year. My ongoing commitment to inclusion, visibility, and everyday allyship has clearly resonated far beyond anything I could have imagined, earning me a repeat nod in one of the ceremony’s most meaningful categories.

Also flying the Caithness flag is Cole Garscadden, Co‑Founder of Stepping Out, who has been shortlisted for the Rising Star award.
Cole's work supporting LGBTQ+ people in the Highlands has gained significant momentum over the past year, marking him as one of Scotland’s emerging voices in community advocacy.

Adding even more pride to the moment, both Highland Pride and Caithness Pride have been nominated for The Pride Event award. Their celebrations — vibrant, welcoming, and deeply rooted in community spirit — have helped transform the Highlands into one of Scotland’s most inclusive regions, offering visibility and joy to people who often live far from major city events.

Taken together, these four nominations represent an extraordinary achievement for a rural county often overlooked on the national stage. They highlight the strength, creativity, and compassion of Caithness’s LGBTQ+ community and its allies — and the growing recognition of our region’s role in shaping a more inclusive Scotland.

With the Proud Scotland Awards fast approaching, Caithness can already celebrate. Four nominations, four powerful stories, and one clear message:

this small northern county is making a big impact.

What do these nominations mean for Caithness?