The winners of the Weston Charity Awards are being revealed today at a celebration event held at Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum.
The Garfield Weston Foundation, in partnership with Pilotlight, expanded the Awards to reach more organisations after the programme of funding and strategic support – first launched in the North East in 2014 – proved successful.
Pilotlight’s chief executive, Gillian Murray, says:
For most small charities it is vital to have a solid plan in place to be stronger and more resilient organisations in today’s challenging environment. Having worked with hundreds of charities we know that being able to partner with a team of dynamic business leaders means that they can develop their leadership skills and plan strategically to achieve long-term sustainability. Former award winners report that they feel better equipped and more confident to face the future, especially as they continue to see demand for their services increase.
Sixteen charities working in the areas of youth, welfare and community have won the Weston Charity Awards this year and, alongside funding, they will have access to a team of senior business leaders through Pilotlight 360.
These are the sixteen winning organisations:
- Apex Charitable Trust – supports former offenders into employment, training, education and voluntary work across Merseyside.
- Disability Action Yorkshire – Harrogate based charity providing services that help disabled people live life the way they want to.
- Falcon Support Services – works with those that are homeless, at risk of homelessness or vulnerable within Leicestershire, providing supported accommodation and community projects to help them live independently and positively contribute to their communities.
- Hope Support Services – provides support for young people when a close family member is diagnosed with a life threatening illness, locally in Herefordshire & Gloucestershire and nationally via its Hope Online portal.
- Key Changes – Unlocking Women’s Potential – is a gender specific organisation designed to support and tackle social barriers for women who have experienced the criminal justice system and those at risk of offending in South Yorkshire.
- LD:NorthEast – supports people with learning disabilities and their carers across North Tyneside and Newcastle.
- Malvern Special Families – provides safe, stimulation and fun social opportunities to children and young people with disabilities in South Worcestershire.
- Project 6 – works to reduce harm caused by substance abuse for individuals and their families in Keighley and Airedale, West Yorkshire.
- SAFE – Greater Manchester based charity working to prevent human trafficking by educating those at risk and the industries where trafficked people are exploited.
- Sight Advice South Lakes – supports blind and partially sighted people in the South Lakes area of Cumbria to maintain their independence.
- SELFA (Skipton Extended Learning For All) – supports vulnerable, disadvantaged and disabled children to improve self-confidence, self-esteem and develop positive attitudes to learning.
- Sport 4 Life UK – works with unemployed and socially excluded young people in Birmingham to improve their employability and life skills.
- Staffordshire Women’s Aid – supports women and children living with, escaping or recovering from the impacts of domestic and sexual violence.
- The Wellspring Stockport – frontline resource centre for homeless and disadvantaged people in Stockport, open 365 days a year.
- Women Acting in Today’s Society – provides services to women in Birmingham, including ex-offenders and those who have experienced domestic abuse.
- Zest – Health for Life – addresses health inequalities and social isolation of people living in disadvantaged areas of Yorkshire, predominantly East Leeds and Rotherham.