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How to apply for the Weston Charity Awards

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Applications for the Weston Charity Awards are open.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday, January 9, 2026

Stage 1: Applications

When filling out the application form you'll be asked to:

  • Explain how your charity would use the Awards to make a difference to your beneficiaries

  • Ensure that the person applying is a senior authorised representative of your charity, such as the CEO or equivalent

  • Have your registered charity numbers ready to include in your application

  • Tell us how you found out about the Awards
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Stage 2: Longlisting

As part of the longlisting process we may request additional information about your charity’s finances or services. You'll be ask to return this information to Pilotlight within seven days.

If your application progresses to the next stage, we'll ask you to attend a longlist meeting over Teams.

Longlisted charities will be contacted by Pilotlight by early February.

Stage 3: Longlisting meeting

If your charity is longlisted, you will be invited to a Teams meeting with Pilotlight in February.

Please ensure a senior representative (CEO or equivalent) and the Chair of Trustees are available to attend.

The meeting is an opportunity for both parties to explore whether the Weston Charity Awards is a good fit for your charity. You may be asked to provide further supporting information in advance.

All information shared throughout the process will be treated confidentially.

 

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Stage 4: Shortlisting & Final selection

After the meeting, feedback will be presented to the Awards Judging Panel (made up of the Garfield Weston Foundation’s Board of Trustees) to decide on a shortlist and pick the Award winners.

Up to 22 charities will be selected as Award winners based on:

  • The charity’s ambition for the future
  • The impact it makes on people in need
  • Its readiness to engage with and benefit from the Pilotlight 360 programme
  • A desire to grow and develop its work

Once selected, we'll be in touch to inform the winners!

The Awards will be launched at a celebratory event in June, where winners will meet Pilotlight, the Garfield Weston Foundation, and fellow award winners.

Stage 5: Pilotlight 360

Once the Awards launch, each of the 22 winners are matched with a Pilotlight Project Manager and four empathetic business leaders for their Pilotlight 360 programme.

The programme will begin between July and December. Meetings take place once a month and are a mix of in-person and virtual meetings over eight months.  The in person meetings are held in Pilotlight’s London office.

Charity leaders will also attend two peer-to-peer support sessions with fellow award winners to share good practice and learn from each other.

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Stage 6: Weston Charity Awards Celebration Event

Once all the winners have come to the end of the Pilotlight 360 programme, everyone gathers to celebrate their achievements.

A final Awards Celebration Event will take place in October of the following year.

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Need more information before you apply?

Attend an info session and get your questions answered.

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World of Learning Conference and Exhibition

09:00, Tuesday 3 Feb 2026
17:00, Wednesday 4 Feb 2026
World of Learning returns to London. Come and meet the team at our stand and find out more about ‘Learning by doing good’.
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Do you have more questions?

If you have more questions about the Awards, please take a look at our Frequently Asked
Questions.

Frequently Asked Questions