The Weston Charity Awards, launched last year in partnership between Pilotlight and the Garfield Weston Foundation, are to expand in 2015 to help small charities across the North of England.
The initiative was born after seeing a constant decline in funding applications from charities affected by government spending cuts while the demand for their services increased.
This year charities working in the fields of welfare, youth or community are invited to apply to receive a year of strategic planning support through Pilotlight and unrestricted funding. A total of twelve winners will be selected to work with Pilotlight to help them achieve their goals.
The Garfield Weston Foundation’s Director, Philippa Charles, explains:
“Over the last three years we’ve been shocked to see a significant decline in the number of funding applications from charities in the North. What’s really worrying is that applications from organisations providing community services fell by about 40% - the very areas hit hard by funding cuts. By building on the success of the first ever Weston Charity Awards in the North East, we want to reach more charities across the North, helping them to achieve their goals.”