The Weston Charity Awards

Do you lead a charity working in the fields of Community, Environment, Welfare, or Youth? Are you based in the North or Midlands of England, or Wales? Do you have at least one paid full-time member of staff in a leadership position and an income of less than £5 million per year?

Then you could be eligible for a package of support including an unrestricted grant, worth just over £22,000. This help for charities is more vital than ever as the cost-of-living crisis escalates.

Through the Weston Charity Awards, unrestricted grants of £6,500 are available for up to 22 ambitious charities. The cash contributions are available to instigate strategic change and accelerate innovative growth despite current challenges. Winning applicants also gain free access to the Pilotlight 360 programme - an eight-month package of leadership coaching worth an estimated £16,000.

Alongside grants, award winners receive an unrivalled package of leadership mentoring from four senior professionals across diverse private and public sector organisations. These empathetic “Pilotlighters” offer in-depth expert coaching on everything from creative operational efficiencies to sustainable long-term business strategies that take an organisation to the next level. Winning charities also access:

• collaborative opportunities and events through Pilotlight’s network of UK charities
• two peer-to-peer support sessions with other award winners to share best practice
• a celebratory event for all award-winners on conclusion of the programme
• the enhanced profile associated with receiving this award grant for excellence

To be eligible to apply, your charity must have:

• A registered charity number
• At least one paid full-time member of staff in a leadership position
• Delivered a service for at least two years
• Income of less than £5 million per year
• Provide direct services to beneficiaries or take practical action on the environment
• A degree of financial stability that enables full engagement in the programme
• A majority of activity or beneficiaries based in the North or Midlands of England or Wales. To check that your area is eligible to apply to the Awards, take a look at our full location list here.
• A willingness to meet in person for three out of eight meetings (two in London and one at your charity's location).

Your charity must also be working to alleviate disadvantage in one or more of the following fields:

• Community: This includes volunteering work, practical projects to improve an area, running community centres and providing a range of services for their local community, especially for those who may be vulnerable or in need.
• Environment: This includes practical action around sustainable land use and fishing, renewable energy, recycling schemes, biodiversity, species preservation, marine life, education, climate change science and conservation.
• Welfare: This includes helping adults experiencing exclusion, social or economic hardship; people experiencing homelessness; people who are at risk of offending or reoffending; and charities supporting older people or people with disabilities.
• Youth: This includes providing services to children and young people up to the age of 25, such as offering advice and guidance, work experience, training and coaching. Schools are not eligible to apply to the Awards.