Steven Carr recognised for his work with Ukrainian orphans with RSGS award

Dnipro Kids chairman Steven Carr has been awarded the Royal Scottish Geographical Society's (RSGS) Livingstone Medal for his charity's work to help Ukrainian orphan families.

Previous winners of the award include Sir David Attenborough, Sir Edmund Hillary and Neil Armstrong.

Steven - who also now serves as a Perth and Kinross councillor - received a standing ovation for his achievement when elected members met this week in the council chambers.

The RSGS Livingstone Medal is awarded for outstanding services of a humanitarian nature.

Hibs fan Steven founded Dnipro Kids after his side played Dnipro in the UEFA Cup in 2005. The charity has been supporting orphans in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine ever since. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in March 2022 Steven heroically drove a bus full of Ukrainian orphans and their carers across Europe to safety in Scotland.

Steven described it as a "fantastic honour" to be given the award which he was presented with at Easter Road on Sunday, May 12 by Royal Scottish Geographical Society board member David Henry.

He said: "This is a fantastic honour, which I am very proud to accept on behalf of everyone that has been involved with the Dnipro Kids charity over the last 18 years. I have been privileged to have been involved in bettering the lives of hundreds of Ukrainian children during that time, and I didn’t hesitate when it came to ensuring their safety when the country was dragged into a horrific war. We will continue to do all we can to help the children of Ukraine, whether that is here in Scotland or back in Ukraine."

Presenting the award to Steven Carr at Easter Road, Mr Henry said: "After a visit to the orphanage back in 2005, after the UEFA tie against Dnipropetrovsk, Hibs fans were truly moved by what they saw. It’s a testament to their big-heartedness and genuine humanity that the charity has continued to this day.

"Led by chairman Steven Carr, it had a critical role in bringing Ukrainians to Scotland, and possibly changing the UK government’s stance on Ukrainian refugees, after the recent invasion by Russia. Steven Carr travelled to Dnipro after the invasion, persuading a bus driver from Poland to take him to the orphanage and bring orphans and families to safety. He won a battle to win them the right to stay in the UK, and continues to work on their behalf, as a volunteer, to this day.

"It is for this example of courage, perseverance, determination and sheer basic humanity that we want to say thank you, and to award him one of our very highest accolades – the Livingstone Medal. The world needs examples like this more than ever right now."

As councillors met on Wednesday, May 15, Provost Xander McDade paid tribute to Cllr Carr having made it his "life's work" to help Ukrainian orphan families and congratulated him on his award. Councillors and council officers rose to their feet to applaud Cllr Carr on his achievement.